LG autonomy: Recuperate aggregation centres, Ogun maize farmers tell FG

Maize farmers under the aegis of Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Ogun State Chapter, has called on the federal government to resuscitate aggregation centres in pursuit of sustainable rural development across the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country as they task state governors with farmer’s tax holidays.

The MAAN state chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Kokumo, state secretary, Mr. Jimoh Oyerogba and national youth leader, Mr. Nurayn Abiola, while addressing journalists in Abeokuta the Ogun State capital, said that aggregation centres will serve as hubs where agricultural produce, resources, and knowledge converge to drive economic growth and promote self-sufficiency in rural populations. He added that the presence of these centres in the 774 local government areas of the federation will help farmers produce and profit more.

The state chairman, while responding to questions, revealed that the centres will promote rural development and bridge the gap between isolated communities and broader markets.

“These centres will aid the price control system and market access; they will empower rural populations, reduce poverty, and achieve sustainable development.

We are calling for these centres because they bring together smallholder farmers, potential buyers, and retailers to achieve economies of scale and strengthen social cohesion and resilience.

“In addition to traditional agribusiness services, it will promote women-oriented social and economic activities.

“We strongly believe that this initiative will improve dietary diversity through easy and quick access for rural settlements to nutritious fresh food items. Boost the local economy through enhanced agricultural production and employment generation, reduce tensions among communities, and build the capacity of local producers and retailers for smooth transactions,” Kokumo said.

On his part, the MAAN National Youth Leader-South, Mr. Nurayn Abiola maintained that aggregation centres will afford the government to guarantee an economically viable minimum price regime for farmers’ produce. “The assurance of such centres will encourage and motivate farmers to continually cultivate and produce crops, thereby ensuring food security. Governments can thus mop up excess produce. By so doing, the production glut, which often leads to severe post-harvest losses, will be minimised, if not entirely eliminated. We task the state governors with the farmer’s tax holiday and also to accommodate the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy,” he added.

An agronomist and president of the PEAKOF cluster, Olukayode Olaitan, said that the absence of crop aggregation centres has made price fluctuations very rampant from year to year.

“Because of the gluts in the crop market, the prices will crash so badly that farmers will suffer serious losses, such that farmers will be discouraged from planting in the next planting season, which results in food insecurity, food scarcity, and price inflation. It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to provide appropriate orientation in advance, introduce a regular follow-up scheme, and process supervision of these centers when revived,” he urged.

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