Some farmers have called for the Federal Government’s support in acquiring virgin lands for farming maize and cassava to promote organic farming.
The farmers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that organic farming was the way to go in developing the country’s food self-sufficiency drive.
Mr Bayo Gboyega, a maize farmer, said that as he prepared for the 2016 farming season, he was preparing a land that had not been farmed on for two years.
Gboyega said that he had previously planted cassava on the land and left it to regain its lost nutrients.
“Two years ago, I farmed on two plots of land located in Oke-Aro area of Ogun which I left after harvest.
“I wanted the land to regain its lost nutrients; so, when I use it for maize this year, it will be like a fresh land.
“Organic farming do not require fertiliser and that is what most farmers are working toward because that will give a face-lift to agriculture in the country,’’ Gboyega said.
According to Mrs Temitayo Ganiu, a cassava farmer, organic farming will require much more land and that is where the farmers need government’s support.
“At this point, it will be profitable for government to give us lands so that when we farm it, we can move to another part of the farmland the following year.
“The government should support organic agriculture because it is the best and it will give the original taste to the foods produced,’’ Ganiu said.
Mr Buchi Achikaru said that organic agriculture would enhance productivity and ensure that lands were put to good use.
Achikaru said that so many lands were lying waste because they were not being used.
The farmers also called on the government to evenly allocate lands to farmers’ associations.
Culled from the Leadership Newspaper
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