By Henry Oduah
Reporter
All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Imo State has carried out the first phase of its agricultural development plan to get funds for farmers really tilling the soil to feed the nation.
Farmers expect great benefits from the merger of over 600 cooperative societies intoImo State Thrift And Investment Cooperative Union, in partnership with EHF (Owerri Municipal) Cooperative Society,Ministry of Commerce and Industries,and AFAN.
Stunted by the bureaucracy in accessing funds and other agricultural aids, the farmers resolved in 2011 to unite against politicians not interested in the sector.
AFAN “resolved to wean itself from the government” and set up a committee to form an umbrellacooperative for framers and prepare it for direct funding by government and or local or international multilateral agencies for agricultural development.
A paper presented by committee Chairman, M.A.C. Odu, a professor, accused former Governor IkediOhakimof not allowing agricultural funds to get to farmers in the field.
“During … Ohakim’s administration, funds dedicated to agriculture were released to states. But the funds did not get to … AFAN Imo State as intended by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“They were recklessly spent on nourishing the political ambition of cronies in the corridors of power,” Odu said.
After Ohakim failed to win reelection, he added, the money left in state coffers was used “recklessly toward phantom projects to the utter neglect of the purpose for which it was earmarked and disbursed.”
Although the mega cooperative was formed in 2013, it is just about to start producing fruits.
Imo farmers finally lost confidence in the government after they alleged that funds meant for agriculture have been denied them by the RochasOkorochaadministration.
“It has long been established by technocrats in productive sector of Nigerian economy that governments cannot be efficient in allocation of resources for productive processes.
“Governments are best at making rules for private sector operators to drive production and distribution processes.
“It is even more pertinent in food production as the failures of Okorocha administration to husband farm assets inherited have eloquently spoken,”Odu stressed.
