Lack of equipment makes farmers’ suffer – Agric Cooperative Societies lament

Some members of the Cooperative Societies who are into Agricultural businesses across the twenty Local Government Areas in Ogun state have highlighted some of the major challenges they are facing, saying lack of equipment is drawing them back in farming, therefore calling on government and stakeholders for help.

This was revealed during the official opening of National Agri-Preneur Training Scheme-Post Training Visit, organized by Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), held at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the state capital today, Wednesday.

The post-training visit is a follow up on the Agribusiness development and empowerment programme held in October 2021, and its aim is to ascertain the training outcome and impact assessment, also to identify challenges and advisory services to the beneficiaries where necessary.

SMADAN, during their last training held at the Ogun State Tech-Hub in Abeokuta, empowered not less than sixteen Cooperative societies in Ogun state with training and cash support.

While speaking on behalf of the sixteen cooperative societies present at the venue, Mr. Olubunmi Moses Agunrege from Ado-Ota LGA said many of their members who got the offer last year utilize the money accordingly, even though it’s not enough for their expectations.

Agunrege said the sum of two hundred and eighty five thousand naira given to each cooperative society at the last training to boost their agricultural work.

“Where there is more money in Agricultural business now, according to value chain, it’s processing, which is the capital utensil, because we need equipment, coupled with the challenges in terms of economy and struggling of things, it’s not easy.

“What we are now looking forward to is that we need access to equipment. Though we are also working towards purchasing of innovative mobile processing units, but finance has been the main challenge.

“Part of the challenges we are also facing is the issue of land-grabbers, herdsmen which is a national issues. If government can look into the aspect of insecurity and land-grabbers, we will have our way in making things turn around, and have food surplus in the country, most especially in Ogun state.”

While delivering his keynote address, Director General of SMEDAN, Mr. Wale Fasanya said the post-training visit emphasis was on the training and empowerment, and also to get feedback on the previous training, which can be used in planning, further support and skill development.

He therefore urged participants to use the opportunity for the purpose of improving their businesses, while assuring MSMEs that its agency will continue to support their dreams in the area of job and wealth creation, as well as poverty alleviation.

Also while speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Agriculture, Dr Angel Adelaja-Kuye, said the training is a national agri-preneurship training scheme, which was set up in strengthening agri-businesses and making sure that people understands the power of structure, and cooperation among farmers.

Dr. Adelaja-Kuye stated further that the programme started through training to access to agriculture finance, and they were able to present certificates to all participants in the last three years.

She therefore urged other members of cooperative societies across the state to come and register with SMEDAN and Ogun state ministry of Agriculture for support.