COVID 19: Agronomist tasks Kwara govt to exempt all agric practitioners

In a bid to curb famine in the nearest future in Kwara state, An Ilorin Based Agronomist, Mr. Babatunde 
Oluwatosin has appealed to the state government to exempt all the agricultural practitioners in the state.

This appeal is in respond to the exemption of only farmers to carryout out their activities during the lockdown by the state government against the spread of Corona virus pandemic.

Speaking during an interview to this medium, Mr. Oluwatosin revealed that " there is what we called value chains in agriculture implying that the farmers cannot carryout their farming activities without the chain stakeholders.

" they comprises of dealers and suppliers of fertilizers, agrochemicals (Insecticides and herbicides), farm machineries such tractors, harvesters, seedlings, veterinary stores and even off takers.

"To this extend we're calling on the state government to extend the exemption towards these stakeholders in the agric value chains.

The Agronomist explained that this will pave ways for farmers to access agricultural inputs, agrochemicals and machineries seamlessly without rancour and it will boost food productivity in the state.

He said "our operations is seasonal and at this farming season most farmers need us to carryout their farming activities. We will obey the universal law of World Health Organization (WHO) on constant hands wash, wearing of face masks, keeping distance and avoidance of social gathering to curb the virus.

According to him the dangers involve in the breaks  of the food supply chains will lead to poor farming activities by the farmers, food shortages and inflation in the nearest future

" the government should encourage all the value chains as we are battling with COVID 19, afterwards we will not embark on a fight against hunger and famine. All hands must be on deck this season to avoid Food crisis.

Mr. Oluwatosin however acknowledged the Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq prompt action against the spread of the virus in the state.

He said " I want to applauds the tremendous efforts put by the Governor through the constitution of the COVID 19 technical committee, purchase of Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) for health workers and provision of palliatives for the public to salvage the situation.

" the security apparatus put in place by the Governor to ensure strict adherence to the laws against movement and social gathering by the masses is also gigantic step towards eliminating the spread of the virus in the state.