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Farmers in Edo State celebrate their gradual return to the farms after long years of abandonment as a result of kidnapping activities that led to the death of many of them.
They said this was as a result of the security measures taken by the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Alhaji Bako Dogwo, President of the Integrated Farmers Association of Nigeria (IFAN) and Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), disclosed this when farmers on the platform of IFAN, AFAN and State Federated FADAMA Farmers installed the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Jarrett Tenebe, as the patron of Edo farmers.
He commended Okpebholo for the administration’s efforts to improve security across the state, saying the development had boosted farmers’ confidence to return to their farms.
“Farmers who could not go to their farms before are now happy because they can access their farms and continue their farming activities,” Dogwo said, adding that the improved security would help boost food production and strengthen food security in the state.
Also speaking, Hon. Prince Henry Ebole, who represented the State Federated FADAMA Farmers, commended Okpebholo for his administration’s SHINE agenda and pledged the support of farmers to the administration, saying farmers played a critical role in providing food and employment opportunities for youths.
“As of today, our records show that registered FADAMA farmers under the Federated Farmers Community Association are about 2,000 members.
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“These are farmers captured in the old FADAMA register. We will move from ward to ward to register and sensitise farmers and increase our numbers,” he said.
Ebole also said the association would mobilise farmers to support the APC, adding that farmers constituted an important constituency in the state.
Responding, Tenebe expressed appreciation to the farmers for honouring him as their patron and pledged to support their activities.
He said both he and Okpebholo were farmers and understood the importance of agriculture to the economy and food security.
“I am a farmer, the governor is a farmer as well, and he remembers where he is coming from.
“That was why, when he came into office, he tackled security and ensured that the state was safe for farmers to return to their farms,” Tenebe said, adding that improved security was essential to enabling farmers to operate freely and increase food production.
