Farmers lament impact of COVID-19 on agric

By Olushola Okewole

The Chairman, Farmer’s Association, Ejigbo LCDA, Alhaji Tajudeen Sanni (Labule), has disclosed that coronavirus pandemic has affected the farming process this year as movements were barred during the lockdown.

According to them, some of the farmers who live in Lagos and cultivate farmlands far away in other states could not get to their farms when the interstate movement was restricted.

He noted that they could not go to farm when they were supposed to during the lockdown, saying the little maize available in the market is a product from farmers who are in the village closer to their farms.

Explaining the system of farming by the farmers living in the urban areas, Labule said since there is no availability of farmland in the council area, the farmers normally go to the village to get land for cultivation during each farming season to plant and harvest.

He however stated that their plan this year was frustrated as Covid-19 pandemic stalled every move.

Labule added that apart from Covid-19, the major challenges faced by the farmers include funds to secure lands for planting, caterpillars for clearing, and security to guard the farms.

He said the government has earlier promised them grants but yet to receive any as he believed the economy has been affected by the lockdown.

He informed that some of the crops to be expected by August are tomatoes, okra, and cassava among others.