The 2020 Annual Farmer’s Forum of Rural Development Programme (RUDEP) of the Justice Development and Peace Movement (JDPM) of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo was held on a low key on 10th December 2020 at JDP Office, Mabolaje Oyo town.
It is an interactive forum where farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector across Oyo, Oke-Ogun and Oyo zone meet to brainstorm on sustainable agricultural development issues. This year edition was tagged “Post 2020; the way forward for smallholder farmers”.
The event featured development partners such as; JDPC Ibadan, JDPI Ekiti, JDPMC Osogbo, JDPM Oro, Ilorin Diocese, HarvestPlus Nigeria, Cassava Weed Management Unit of IITA, ARMTI Ilorin, OYSADEP, NIHORT, FRCN, NTA, AMMIL Oyo, Steve Smart Agro Enterprises Ogbomoso, Multichem Industrial Ltd Ibadan and AGRIPT. Others are; Digital Farms Solutions Oyo, Obalagbe, Oladele Mogba Foundation Oyo, Funtols Modern Farmers Ogbomoso, Divine Mercy Foods, Ise Oluwa Foods amongst others.
In his opening remark, the Coordinator of JDPM, Rev Fr Gabriel Adeleke noted that the impact of COVID-19 is a reality to all nations because of its negative impact of people’s wellbeing globally. He said that one of the best ways to fight against a future occurrence of unexpected contingencies on food security is SMART FARMING which eliminates all sort of farms drudgery.
He added that farming has gone beyond subsistence and primitive practices as modern technology has made agriculture easier and productive than before.
“2020 have been eventful but not without many unforgettable memories. The coronavirus pandemic disrupted all aspect of our lives especially food security; people are dying of hunger and malnutrition every day. As farmers, you should be able to diverse your farm practices.
You can’t keep planting the same set of crops every year”.
Rev Fr Gabriel maintained that farming is not just a profession but a noble one which can sustain individuals to live a good life. He charged farmers to plant crops that can easily yield returns within a short period rather than waiting a whole year.
He equally appealed to the youth and unemployed graduates to embrace smart farming rather than waiting for white-collar jobs that rarely existed.
While delivering his welcome address, the Chairman, Sustainable Farmers Association of Nigeria, Oyo State, (SUFAN), Deacon Matthew Okedele appreciated the contributions of all members towards farming.
He appealed to government agencies and institutions to assist farmers in building a sustainable agricultural hub in the state adding that, despite all odds in 2020 especially COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and farmers-herders clashes, the association still appreciate divine intervention over families and their businesses. He charged members to take good care of themselves by eating well instead of selling all farm produce for commercial alone.
The keynote speaker, Mr Abiodun Olasore from ARMTI Ilorin, Kwara State while delivering his message on the 2020 theme “Post 2020; the way forward for smallholder farmers” said the major challenges in 2020 are; COVID-19 pandemic, total lock-down, economic recession, farmers-herders clashes and climate change which affect rainfall.
According to him, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic has led to the death of millions of people, shortage of foods in the market, shortage of labour on farms especially from the neighbouring West African countries through the prolonged lockdown which forced many labourers to return home without coming back to Nigeria.
He appealed to the participants to be more hygienic to prevent disease outbreak. Mr Abiodun added that farmers should learn how to keep their farm produce safely from pest; they must learn the food value chain and value addition to minimize waste and increase profit.
He charged the farmers to get prepared for more economic woes in 2021 because of gradual decline in grants to Nigeria by international donors adding that instead of panicking over the unanticipated challenges, they should make their cooperative groups more vibrant which could assist their businesses through soft loans. He maintained that farmers should embrace commodity cluster system in their food value chain and marketing of farm produce.
Delivering his remark, the Legal Holder of JDPM Oyo and the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Rev Dr Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo appreciated the contribution of all participants towards making the programme a success. Bishop Badejo said that the issue of frequent farmers-herders clashes is like a cloud of smoke with a serious fire outbreak because of the insincerity of the political functionaries and community heads who abetted in a conspiracy to create pandemonium.
“Fulani settlers have been living with the Yoruba for decades without uproar until a few years ago that a different clash ensues between crop farmers and herdsmen. We will continue praying and take necessary action to be free from oppression.”
Bishop Badejo maintained that one of JDPM long time goals is to see vibrant groups which can take care of themselves after tutelage and continue to be proactive in project execution as the organization has many pertinent issues to attend to beyond agriculture. He charged other church denominations and religious bodies to emulate the developmental cause of the Catholic Church in ameliorating masses oppression.
The highpoint of the event was presentation and exhibition of products by the invited institutions, corporate bodies and research institutes. Others are the presentation of gifts to the best farmers of the year, presentation of certificates to the Catholic Agricultural Initiative (CADI) trainees and presentation of farmer’s reports across Oyo, Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso zones.
