By Thompson Yamput
The prevailing soaring food inflation in the Country has been partly blamed on activities of middle men and market associations across the markets.
Small Holders Women Farmers of Nigeria (SWOFON) and Budget Committee Group (BCG), Kogi Chapters made the declaration in a communique issued on Monday after a scorecard presentation meeting recently held in Lokoja.
In the communique signed by SWOFON Chairperson, Hajiya Rukaiyat Ahmed and BCG Chairman, Mr Akpanachi Mathias, they called on the Federal Government to take drastic actions to arrest the soaring food inflation in the country.
“This call becomes imperative in view of the fact that the soaring food inflation in Kogi and other states is exacerbated by middlemen/Market Association members’ sharp practices, thereby undermining government’s effort.
“Therefore, Kogi government should, as a matter of urgency, set up market taskforce to forestall sharp practices by the middlemen and market associations, whose harassment of farmers is causing high food inflation and hunger in Kogi.
“Again, the market associations should be regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to help checkmate their excesses,” the communique stated.
The communique also frowned at governments’ non-interest in off taking farm produce and setting up a consumer market, thereby encourages sharp practices by middlemen/market association, leading to high rate of food inflation in the country.
The communique then called on both federal and state government to sustain their interest in the agricultural sector to create wealth for citizens and improve food security.
It specifically urged Kogi government through Ministry of Agriculture to properly profile Smallholder Women Farmers of Nigeria across MDAs and Agriculture Projects in the state.
“Government should carry out proper awareness and sensitization on their programs for effective reach of farmers and also dissuade criminals who leash on government programs to extort farmers.
“Again, for effective outcomes and impacts of government programs, especially in the agricultural credit scheme, Smallholder Women Farmers of Nigeria should be profiled and carried along, ” the communique stated.