Farmers in Edo State have started returning to their farms across the 18 local government areas following improved security put in place by Gov. Monday Okpebholo’s administration.
Bako Dogwo, President of the Integrated Farmers Association of Nigeria (IFAN) and Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), disclosed this on Wednesday in Benin.
Dogwo spoke when farmers under the aegis of IFAN, AFAN and the state Federated FADAMA Farmers installed the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Jarrett Tenebe, as 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.
“We want to commend Gov. Monday Okpebholo for improving security across the state.
“Farmers who could not go to their farms before are now happy because they can access their farms and continue their farming activities,” he said.
Dogwo said the improved security would help boost food production and strengthen food security in the state.
He added that the farmers were at the APC secretariat to confer their patronage on Tenebe and urged him to serve as a bridge between farmers and the state government.
Also speaking, Hon. Prince Henry Ebole, who represented the State Federated FADAMA Farmers, commended Okpebholo for his administration’s SHINE agenda.
Ebole 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.
“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.
He said improved security was essential to enabling farmers to operate freely and increase food production.
Tenebe subsequently accepted the position of Patron of Edo farmers and was decorated at the event.
