NAN-AE-4
Equipment
By Itohan Abara-Laserian
Lagos, Feb. 13, 2017 (NAN) The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) on Monday urged federal and state governments to improve the leasing arrangements for agricultural equipment to particularly boost rice production in the country.
The South-West Zonal Coordinator of RIFAN, Mr Segun Atho, said, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, that the two tiers of government should make provision for equipment purchases in their budgets.
He said that the 500 harvesters and rice threshers, which the Federal Government purchased in January, would significantly boost rice production in the country if the equipment was properly leased to farmers.
Atho listed the major challenges facing rice farmers in the country as lack of access to farm equipment like tractors, harvesters and bulldozers, among others.
“It is a good thing that the federal and state governments are working hard to ensure rice sufficiency in 2018.
“Our only worry is the manner in which this equipment is made available for leasing to farmers because a major challenge hindering rice production is the dearth of equipment,’’ he said.
Citing a tractor which cost about N11 million as an example, Atho said that individual farmers could not afford to procure major rice cultivation and processing equipment themselves.
He, therefore, underscored the need for the government to come to their aid in that regard.
“So, we really need government’s involvement in the area of equipment. Federal Government’s allocation for agriculture this year is N92 billion and for Lagos State, it is about N40 billion.
“The funds are enough to buy enough tractors that could be leased to farmers in hitch-free processes,’’ he said.
Atho described the LAKE Rice, jointly produced by Lagos and Kebbi states, as a worthwhile venture, saying that some members of RIFAN were also involved in the rice production process.
He said that the production of LAKE Rice was handled via a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. (NAN)
ITM/AO/OOK
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