Agriculture
SOME farmers in Gombe State have expressed concern over plans by agricultural off-takers and middlemen to purchase grains from various communities in the state.
They shared their concerns in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Gombe.
According to the farmers, off-takers are currently visiting villages to deposit money ahead of harvest to secure produce from farmers.
Mr Abubakar Ibrahim, an extension officer in the state, confirmed receiving information from farmers about plans to hoard grains from villages in Gombe State.
Ibrahim stated that off-takers and middlemen were contacting vulnerable farmers, offering to buy their produce, especially rice and maize.
He noted that this had become an annual practice, with off-takers exploiting farmers who urgently needed money.
“They deposit money before harvest, and when the crops mature, they pay the balance and complete the payment.
“Some off-takers even buy farmlands from farmers, nurture them, and harvest the crops themselves,” he said.
Ibrahim attributed the desperation of middlemen to the poor rainfall in parts of Taraba, Adamawa, and Gombe States, which had raised concerns about poor harvests.
He identified rice, maize, millet, and sorghum as the most sought-after crops.
Mr Suleiman Kwadom, a maize farmer from Kwadom community, reported being contacted by off-takers but refused to sell due to limited harvest.
He advised farmers to be cautious, warning that they might sell their produce only to buy it back at exorbitant prices later.
Hassan Dukku from Tilel Community predicted that the activities of these grain merchants would drive up grain prices in spite of the harvest season.
The farmers called on the Federal and Gombe State governments to take proactive measures to address the threats and regulate the activities of off-takers and middlemen. (NAN
A.I
Aug. 27, 2024
Tags: Hassan Dukku Mr Abubakar Ibrahim
