Ogun farmers set to grow revenue on cargo-bound rail lines

Farmers in Ogun State, under the auspices of All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), have expressed desires to increase investment in agricultural production in both food and cash crops as Governor Ibikunle Amosun proposes a public private partnership agreement (PPP) on cargo-bound rail line network construction at the commencement of his second term.

With the state government’s proposal on cargo-bound rail line network, especially at the rural areas across the state, farmers are confident of more profits on the capital invested in agricultural production as major bottlenecks, including little or non-accessibility to markets, little or no bargaining power among other economic factors would be removed.

It would be recalled that Amosun had, during his meeting with the management of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) led by its chairman, Cao Boagang in Abeokuta, sought the partnership of private companies on construction of light rail network for the movement of agricultural produce from farmlands to markets in and out of the state.

“We are introducing light rail that will aid mass movement of goods without putting pressure on the road we have constructed. We will be more than willing to partner with any organisation in achieving our light rail, Olokola Free Trade Zone, airport, city centres, among other projects.

“These companies are also expected to help us in capacity building by introducing our people to modern techniques and tools. Obviously, it is our people that will be responsible for maintaining these projects thereafter,” Amosun said.

Speaking against the backdrop of facility leverage to provided for transport of agricultural produce, Segun Dasaolu, chairman of AFAN, Ogun State branch, said the proposed cargo-bound rail line in the state would translate into more investment in agricultural production and more profits since the rail line would make the marketing of produce easier.

Dasaolu, who spoke in Abeokuta on behalf of farmers in the state, said the transport facility would remove touting and middlemen in marketing of agricultural produce and restore better bargaining power of the marketers since the produce sellers would be given opportunities to conveniently transport produce to markets and sell at better prices.

“That is a very good development; marketing of agricultural produce in this state has been posing a big problem to farmers, and for Governor Amosun to propose partnership on the construction of cargo-bound rail line network, then the family of farmers in the state would reciprocate by investing more in agriculture which will bring more revenues to the state.

“Businesses in agricultural sector of the state economy will improve tremendously in both short and long terms. Since there is a reliable facility to move the produce to markets, there will be better bargaining power. This will remove middlemen and give farmers a good bargaining power to better sell their produce and more profits will be made,” he said.

 

RAZAQ AYINLA