S’West govs plan harmonised regional agric calendar, irrigation infrastructure

As part of measures to tackle food insecurity, governments of the South-West states are targeting a harmonised regional agricultural calendar to optimise production cycles across the region.

The calendar aims at streamlining each planting season based on where each state of the zone has a competitive advantage while having a review based on regional needs from time to time.

This is as they look at the comprehensive development of irrigation infrastructure, including the revitalisation of dams for all-year-round farming across most states of the zone.

The development was contained in the latest progress report, cited by The PUNCH, regarding tackling food insecurity in the region, particularly focusing on the production and infrastructure efforts of the respective governments.

The progress report, under the auspices of the DAWN Commission, tracks the progress made since the South-West Governors’ Forum convened in Lagos, in June, to discuss pressing issues affecting the region, with a particular focus on escalating food inflation and its impact on the states.

Among other resolutions, the governors have focused on having a region-wide Agricultural Data Management and Information System, as well as fostering inter-state collaboration on agricultural initiatives to have a truly integrated agricultural ecosystem in the southwest.

Cross-ministerial collaboration was identified as lacking while initiatives of the six state governments were regarded as limited in scope and did not reach a large number of farmers across their respective states.

Other measures agreed upon but yet to be implemented were the introduction of mini tractors for smallholder farmers, increasing the number of farmers in the region, lowering the average age of farmers, and creating a more appealing enabling entry point for youths into the agricultural sector.

The report, however, acknowledged the successes of the six state governments in terms of the establishment of farmers’ markets and food discount programmes to address consumption challenges, enhanced security measures for farming communities, adoption of cluster farming models and increased mechanisation and the expansion of input distribution and support for farmers.

The report also cited improvements in agricultural data management and extension services, initiatives to enhance agricultural infrastructure, including land clearing and road construction, and efforts to improve agricultural financing and investment.