By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
FARMERS in Saki and other remote parts of Oyo State are lamenting their recent post harvest losses due to bad roads and lack of storage facilities.
Mr Timothy Olusoji Ajayi showcasing his bumper harvest
They said, perhaps, the story would have been different if local government tier, which should ordinarily fix rural roads, was granted full autonomy by the federal and state governments.
They, therefore, called on all farmers across the country to reject politicians who would not agree to grant fiscal autonomy to local government areas in the coming 2023 general elections.
Some cassava harvest at farm
Speaking to Stonix News in an emotion-laden voice on behalf of rural farmers, Mr Timothy Olusoji Ajayi, a graduate of Agricultural Engineering at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, said he had lost 76 acres of harvested cassava to bad roads in August.
Ajayi, who’s the Director of Operations, Ajot Farms, said the cassava farms were located at Iroko, along Oyo-Ibadan Expressway and Budo Ogbomosho, Saki, Oyo State.
“I have up to 20 acres of farm land at Iroko, along Oyo Ibadan Express Road, Ibadan.
Mr Timothy Olusoji Ajayi with some of his workers
“While the one at Saki where the loss occurred is 100 acres (partnership).
“Due to capital and non-accessibility of loan, we were able to cultivate 56 acres out of 100 acres that we leased at Budo, Ogbomoso, Saki, Oyo State,” he narrated.
Narrating his painful recent post harvest loss experience, the agripreneur, said he engaged 10 labourers for the harvest that lasted for over a week and harvested a total of 25 tonnes.
“It was terrible and I’m yet to recover because of the hard earned money that was invested on it and even the risk involved, especially with the present state of security in the country.
“And it stand as the only means of getting fund to attend to my immediate needs and to also prepare for dry season farming.
“I was happy when we started harvesting the cassava because it yielded well.
“But I became sad when the process of transporting the huge harvest to the main road for big trucks to load and take them to the processing company started taking longer than expected due to the deplorable state of the road that link the farm to town which eventually led to post harvest loss.”
He said after the harvested cassava could not be transported to the point it was needed, he invited residents of the communities around to have a field day.
“But I was happy in the end when the underprivileged within the community started packing it for free, saying they will manage it for Cassava farmers,” he noted.
Why I Went into farming
Unlike Mr Oludare Alaba, the graduate of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), who wanted to return his certificate in exchange for the school fees he paid as a student, after being frustrated out of farming due to the onslaught of herdsmen, Ajayi’s frustration is coming from the wastage of high yield of cassava with no good roads to convey them to the point of need.
Speaking on why he went into farming rather than other get-rich-quick means, Ajayi said it was mere passion for farming, a skill he also inherited from his late father.
“My passion for farming is inborn….My late father of blessed memory was a farmer and I remember vividly that he taught me the ABC and 123 on how to farm before I started primary school.
Mr Timothy Olusoji Ajayi and his workers
“It was also my passion for agriculture in general that made me to study Agricultural Engineering at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin,” he enthused.
According to him, he uses the proceeds from training other farmers to cultivate his crops, adding that it was difficult assessing loan for farming in banks.
“I am an agripreneur. I use the proceeds of my side hustling to invest in farming.
“It’s pretty very difficult for farmers to obtain loan in this country,” he averred.
How Ajayi Saved People From Hunger During COVID-19 Lockdown
He alluded to 2020 COVID-19 lockdown and how he assisted the state government in feeding people through his farm produce.
“I remember I donated 150kg of garri to the Oyo State government on May 27, 2020, during Covid-19 lockdown harvested from my cassava farm at Iroko.
“The tonnes of cassava were harvested at my Iroko farm and were also processed to garri at a processing centre at Iroko.
“I also gave to people around to ease hunger during the lockdown,” he noted.
Calls For Local Government Autonomy
Following the post harvest loss due to the deplorable state of farm roads in Oyo State, Mr Ajayi has called for autonomy for local government, saying that would enable the third tier of the so-called federal system of government to fix rural roads that lead to farm settlements.
“I urge Federal Government and State Government, both executive and legislature) to grant autonomy to Local Governments as this will enable them to pay attention to rural roads within their areas.
“They’d be able to make provision for storage facilities, strategically sited in farm settlements to store farm produce.
“The present state of most rural roads across the country is affecting the cost of transportation of agricultural produce and increasing post harvest loss which, in turn, affects rural farmers’ income,” he posited.
What's your reaction?
