Traditional ruler advises Kogi govt on distribution, sales of inputs to farmers.

Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.

Worried by the poor method of distribution and sale of agricultural inputs and seedlings to farmers in Kogi state, a traditional ruler, the Shaba of Felele in Lokoja Local government area, Alhaji Musa Abdulkadir, has appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Development Program (ADP) to involve traditional rulers in the exercise to ensure equitable distribution of the commodities.

In an interview with our correspondent in his palace at Felele, a suburb of Lokoja on Wednesday, Alhaji Abdulkadir lamented that the inputs like fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides, water pumping machines and seedlings have been given or sold to persons either than the actual farmers.

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He also alleged that apart from hoarding the commodities by some persons to be sold to merchants from other states, the distribution of the remnants were done secretly and corruptly in favour of few rich that can afford at exorbitant prices.

“For justice and fair play, the commodities should be distributed directly through the traditional rulers who know the farmers in their various communities. As community leaders, we know our subjects and their occupations, their farms and residences”. The Shaba said.

The traditional ruler noted that the zeal of the farmers could be ebbed if at the end inputs, seedlings and other necessary farming equipments are denied will result in less production.

He explained that though Covid-19 scare and the inglorious activities of kidnappers and bandits might have affected the last harvest resulting in high cost of food prices, with the return of normalcy in Kogi state, farmers are eager to also return to their businesses and should therefore be encouraged by multiplying the inputs seedlings , tractors and other farming implement at affordable prices given free of charge.

Alhaji Abdulkadir also advised the governed to set up agricultural committees for the communities led by traditional rulers to ensure peace among farmers and oversee security on the farms.