Cooperative Society Urged Government on Farmer-Friendly Policies to Tackle Food Scarcity

Ikorodu Broilers Hub Cooperative Multipurpose Society has called for the implementation of farmer-friendly policies by the government to tackle food scarcity ravaging the country.

Speaking on behalf of other farmers to make the call during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the society for the year 2022, held a few weeks back in Ikorodu, Lagos. was Dr. Abmbola Oluwole Banjo, the Acting President of the Cooperative, who said the farmers were unphased by the current economic challenges facing the country but remained hopeful that things would turn around for the better soon.

“We are not immune to the political and economic challenges of 2022, particularly in our volatile agricultural industry. We are grateful to have survived. Even though we have reached the third quarter of 2023, we remain unphased by the current economic challenges and remain hopeful. We have faith that the newly elected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration of the Federal Government and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in Lagos State will implement farmer-friendly policies that promote food production while minimizing obstacles.”

“In addition to the ongoing Ikorodu Broilers Hub /Lagos State Employment Trust Fund /AMO broiler production project, we shall engage the state government and its agencies, private funders, and investors to help us empower more of our members to achieve maximum capacity utilization of their farm infrastructure.”

“We require technical support in constructing our own feed mills, obtaining inputs like grains and soybeans, establishing a meat/chicken processing facility, generating branded packaged processed chicken to compete with imported frozen chicken, and accessing soft loans.  Ultimately, our goals are to create employment, increase farmers’/households’ income, eradicate poverty and hunger in our environment and in Nigeria”, he said.

The Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Cooperatives, Mrs. Adetutu Ososanya, who was represented by Mrs. Onafeko Adebisi, urged the cooperators to maximize all the opportunities made available to them to protect and project their businesses and also contribute their quota to the development of the society.

She pledged the state government support for them, by providing an enabling environment to allow them to thrive.

Ososanya urged the farmers to play by the rules of the game of cooperative and remain focused so, as to achieve their aims and objectives.