As part of efforts aimed at improving the lives of farmers and the economy, the COVID-19 intervention programme largesse has been extended to farmers in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The intervention, courtesy of Lagos-CARE and FADAMA, is targeting 15,000 households and 69 food markets.
Recently, farmers at Gberigbe area of the ancient town were met by the Lagos-CARE representative on the modalities of the relief materials disbursement. According to the Ikorodu Local Council’s Agric Desk Officer, Opeyemi Agbaje, the 150 farmers who were mobilised and divided into 15 groups, have been regrouped into five groups per batch.
On the motive of the meeting, Agbaje said it was meant to ascertain the physical existence of the farmers and their farms before the commencement of disbursement.
“They want to be sure that the disbursement gets to the target audience. They want to be sure if they are farmers, “She said.
While addressing the farmers, the FADAMA Lagos Safeguard Officer, Olumuyiwa Senapon, who explained the modalities of the plan, sympathised with the farmers on the losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We all know that in Lagos, the CARE has to do with COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programmes. This is a World Bank initiative in collaboration with the Federal Government and states. Each state has domesticated the CARE. Here in Lagos, we have Lagos-CARE just as other states have theirs.
“We are all aware of the havoc the COVID-19 wrecked and the government realised that those who are affected need to recover from the shock. That is why we have to meet the farmers who are affected,” Senapon said.
The Lagos-CARE Communication Officer, Adeyemi Bewaji, said the physical meeting was an attempt by the initiative to ascertain whether the farmers are real or not.
“The essence of meeting them in person is to prevent what we call political farmers’ saga. We want to be sure that they are indeed real farmers because there must be a return on investment.
“This intervention is aimed at improving the lives of the farmers and also the economy. It must reflect in our economic development because if it doesn’t, our bosses from Abuja may come down here to confirm if indeed the relief materials get to the target populace.”
While applauding the initiative, the farmers said it would go a long way in helping them to recoup losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chairman of De-Kings Coop, Abiodun Olajire, said the meeting enabled the government representatives to interface directly with farmers, to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on their farms and identify their needs.
Also, the chairperson, Aseyori Fish Farmers Group, Alhaja Fatima Olushomo, said: “The only way we can get assistance is to tell them what we want and may God give them the strength to grant our request.”
