Alhaji Ibrahim Isa, an expert in cotton farming and member of the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN), has advised the Federal Government to re-introduce farm centres and produce marketing boards.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Isa made the appeal in an inteview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Funtua, Katsina State.
He said that establishing farm centres with skilled extension workers to educate farmers, would improve yield while the marketing boards would guarantee good pricing.
Besides, the farmer said that both measure would increase the roles of the produce inspection department, to ensure grading and facilitate the achievement of the desired results.
The expert said that adulteration of the commodity constituted an impediment to cotton business growth in the country.
He decried the increase in cases of cotton adulteration with water, sand, dust, wood, metallic objects and other items designed to increase the weight.
He cautioned cotton farmers against all forms of adulteration to ensure the commodity’s global acceptance and called on research institutes to live up to the obligation on seed quality.
Isa, a former staff of the defunct Northern States Marketing Board, urged the Federal Government to emulate other countries such as the U.S. Cameroon and Benin Republic in the area of cotton production policies, to ensure maximum gain and success in the business.
According to him, policy change has also brought setbacks.
He underscored the need to constitute rehabilitation, consultation, seed development and management revolving fund committees including cotton farmers.
He expressed concern that merchants, ginners recorded high gains at the expense of the peasant farmers and further urged the government to redouble efforts in check-mating textile import as well as dumping of used materials in the country.
“At present, commodity farmers are left at the mercy of commodity merchants and other stakeholders with commercial interest associated with cotton,’’ Isa said.
While commending the federal and state governments toward supporting farmers, he urged cotton farmers to embrace modern farming techniques and post-harvest procedures.
He lauded President Goodluck Jonathan’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda and described the policy as a good development toward attaining agricultural growth.
