‘Agricultural Services Are Not Geared Towards Needs of Smallholder Farmers Responsible for 90% Food Production’ -Queen Adeyeye
An agricultural stakeholder has said despite 90 per cent of total agricultural production in Nigeria coming from smallholder farmers, regrettably agricultural services are not geared towards the needs of smallholder agriculturists in the country.
The president of Global Mechanised Farmers Initiative Worldwide, Queen Hajarat Adeyeye, stated this while speaking to newsmen.
Also, Adeyeye said the surest way for Industrial development is through Agro-Allied Commodities Cooperatives, which according to her, would help raise the living conditions of farmers and improve the economic activities in the country.
She said the federal government under President Bola Tinubu administration has pledged total support for the housing project.
“90 per cent of the total agricultural production comes from smallholder farmers, but agricultural services are not tailored towards the needs of smallholder farmers in the country,” she emphasised.
There is a need, she affirmed, to improve implementation of different strategies that will bring significant improvement in agricultural productivity, increase farm related employment and incomes as well as promote better nutritional services at all levels.
Queen Hajarat Adeyeye, who is also the Group Managing Director of Agro-Allied Commodities and Service Producers Nigeria, explained that it is very important for the country to recognize the functions of Agro-Allied Commodities Cooperatives Services leading to what she called, “Agro-Preneurship” for national economic and global recognition.
She was joined by the new president of Agro Allied Commodities Cooperatives Services of Nigeria, Professor Williams Azuma Ijoma and other stakeholders in the Cooperatives Societies.
Queen Hajarat Adeyeye, the Yeye Oodua Agbaye of Ife Kingdom, described Agro-Allied Commodities Cooperatives as a surest way for technological advancement and to ensure food security for the growing population in Nigeria.
She said: “With all these advantages and benefits in Agro Allied Commodities Cooperatives, Nigeria can soar high among the comity of nations of the World in no distant time”.
“Consequently, for Nigeria to be great, it must start with a very strong foundation for Agro-Allied Commodities Cooperatives and services in the value chain system.
“Our correspondent reports that eight Cooperative Societies and Companies are in partnership with the federal government through the Bank of Agriculture to provide palliatives for farmers in Nigeria.”
