…Says activities of herders discouraging young farmers
Though he read Economics at the prestigious Convenant University,Tolu Oketokun,founder Diadem Ischacar Farms , has a passion for farming.
It was a passion he inherited from his mum the the backyard cultivation she embarked upon to subsidize the family.
Today,Tolu has deployed his knowledge in Economics to manage his growing farm which activities of Fulani herdsmen has led to loss of millions of naira he invested without government assistance.
Tolu recalled that besides his passion his venture was a response to governments clarion call on the youths to return to the farm.
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However,the destruction to farms located in three states by herders has inflicted pains and financial loss which is at variance with governments mouthed clarion call for youth enterpreneur.
He shared his mind on his baby, Diadem Ischacar Farms which today has extensive farms in
Amoje village alabata, Abeokuta,ogun state, Ikereku village, Abeokuta,Ogun state,Iseyin along Ibadan road,Oyo state and Ogbomosho,Oyo state.
He spoke on what government can do to help young farmers and create employment to solve the nations various problems.
Excerpts:
Questions
ND:When did you go into farming?
I went into farming in 2017.
Somewhere in Ode Omu, Osun state.
ND: What is your motivation?
So many things motivated me into farm but I’ll list about two or three of them
While growing up, my mom is always in the habit of planting different things in my dad’s compound, while I do the watering every morning. Watering those plants regularly and seeing them growing became a thing of joy to me.
In this process,I developed great passion for farming.
After few months of watering they’re set for harvesting. She sells some,give some out and we eat some.
Mostly, at the point when there’s no Kobo to buy anything to feed at home,the farm is what we turn to.
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The second reason is that since food is the most essential need of human, after a careful thought, I decided to join the leagues of people producing the essentials.
Thirdly, the anxious need to have a reliable means to support myself at old age without waiting for my children also is a motivating factor for my going into farming.
ND:What area of farming have you focused on and problems you encountered?
We’re focused on perennial crops such as cashews and palm trees.
Currently, we’ve cassava,yam tubers,maize(these crops are planted just to make incomes to nurture the cashews and palm trees into maturity)
ND:What are the problems you have encountered?
Before the intrusions of Fulani herders,which is the topmost problem now, the Issue of manpower has been a major problem and it’s still a problem. Due to the fact that most of the able bodied men who are supposed to work in the farms are now motorbike riders.
* No direct access to government intervention such as fertilizers. Even when we go to Agro-services to purchase fertilizers, we’ve to wait for days before getting them.
*Purchase of substandard herbicides and high cost of herbicides
* Climatic condition
The weather isn’t so predictable as before
* Cost of renting a tractor to clear and plough is on the high side now. The cost of diesel might be the reason for the high cost.
ND:What problem have you been facing in your bid to be self- employed and provide employment to young people?
As an entrepreneur, there’s no enabling and motivating factors such as grants and adequate security of lives and crops on our farms.
Besides, due to shortage of manpower, I pay more for little jobs to be done on the farm
However,the reoccurring vandalism of the Fulani herders is the major problem we have encountered now and it has led to loss of millions invested on our farms especially the farm at Alabata near Abeokuta. The farm was completely burnt down last year by unknown herders who set the farm ablaze after destroying the crops .
ND:How much would you say have been lost through activities of herders on your farms?
From my records and projections, I was supposed to realize nothing less than 5million naira last year which should have come from the sales of cassava and maize of about 55 acres of farmland. Not to even include the cost of planting our palm trees and cashews.
ND:What assistance do you want the government to provide for young farmers and enterpreneurs?
*The government should make loans and grants accessible to all young entrepreneurs. The loans should be of very low interest rates,it should also be a longtime loan.
*There is a need for regular seminars and training sections solely sponsored by the government are also needed to help entrepreneurs grow their entrepreneurial skills.
*Provisions of farming equipments and farming implements we can easily have access to at either Agro-service centers or at the local government offices.
*Availability of grains storage facilities such as silos.
