To whom it may concern:
I want to remind;
Ø The
Honorable Commissioner For Agriculture And Natural Resources.
Ø Permanent
Secretary, Ministry Of Agriculture.
Ø Permanent
Secretary, Ministry Of Environment.
Ø Director
of Farm Service And Pest Control Ministry Of Agriculture.
Ø The
Honorable Chairman, Ovia North East Local Government Area
That
I have on behalf of the Organized Co-operative Farmers in Edo State
written severally to suggest, recommend, remind you of the dilemma Edo Farmers are
facing. Only for the proposition to be taken with laxity.
I want to once again
remind you that in 2013 there was a report release in one of the national station and
relayed in one of the State Television Station said that Edo was placed as the
16th cassava producing state in the country.
This
report ignited the
move by the All Cooperative Farmers Association to pay a visit to the
local government chairman of Ovia North East
local Government Area, Okada. To intimate her of the intent of the
co-operative
farmers mouth-piece to establish a co-operative farm in Okokhuo
community, in order o boost the cultivation of cassava in the local
government area.
The
farmers Association has cited this project in Okokhuo because of the relative
peace experienced in the community. Another reason for citing the project in Okokhuo community was because of the fertility of the soil in the said area, and also
because that was where the state government through the Ministry of Environment
agreed to approve a piece of land for the purpose of farming for this great
farmers Association to set up this proposed co-operative farm
During the visit the
council boss promised to immediately order the works department to do a on-the
spot assessment of the road in order to commence the bulldozing and grading of
the only major road leading to numbers of farms in the community, including the
cooperative farm
To assure the all
cooperative farmers Association of how determined she was, the information was broadcast
in the state broadcasting station Edo Broadcasting Television
Base on this assurance giving
to the farmers that the bulldozing of the road will commerce immediately, they
embarked on the processing of the land for cultivation.
From the want of these
farmers they were able to collective raise about N2.6m which was used for
clearing, crosscutting, preparing and planting of the 50 acres cleared by the
zealous and dedicated farmers of the Association.
To analyze the
situation All Cooperative Farmers Faced after strenuously coughing out almost
N3m in a project that the farmers were not able t salvage even N2, 000=
Gave birth to
confusion, disagreement, separation distrust which eventually erupt among the
members of the Association. This presently is still ongoing. This wouldn’t have
been experienced if the Ovia North East Boss, Kept her promise of Bulldozing
and Grading the farm road as the money spent by the farmers for the project is like
money thrown into flame of fire. Almost blowing away with a whirlwind like
chaff, this would have been prevented.
Our recommendation and request therefore
is that even if the appropriate office here-unto mentioned cannot completely
repay for the damaged already done, we request that the road to the farm should
immediately be bulldoze and graded financial support should be rendered to all
farmers that has participated in the farm seedlings and other available support
should be provided in order to assist the All Cooperative Farmers Association
to meet up with their targets of cultivation 100 acres of cassava farm this
2014 farming season
Your understanding will
be highly appreciated
General Secretary,
All
cooperative farmers Association
08035778716
