Arewa Cotton supports FG’s move on cotton production, begins free distribution of seeds

As part of efforts to key into the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda on cotton production, coupled with mission to increase production and the entire development of cotton value chain, Arewa Cotton, Nigerian leading cotton farming, ginning and farming firm has begun free distribution of cotton seeds to farmers in the South West and Edo State.

The free distribution of millions cotton seeds to thousands of cotton farmers in all South West states, including Edo, according to Adebayo Olayemi, South West regional manager of Arewa Cotton, was put together to support the Federal Government Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), especially on cotton production in the country.

Speaking at flag-off of Cotton Production and Cotton Value Chain Development in South West for 2014/2015 Cotton Farming Season held at Eweje Farm Institute, Odeda in Ogun State, Olayemi disclosed that “Arewa Cotton distributes high-quality cotton seeds annually, to farmers in conjunction with the Federal Government and concerned state governments.”

The South West regional manager, Arewa Cotton, who commended the Federal Government and South West states and Edo government for subsidising farming inputs, including seeds, fertiliser, insecticide among other tools ranging from 50 percent to 90 percent subsidies, noted that the firm embarked on the scheme to increase cotton production and value chain development.

He explained that apart from increased production, which is targeted at reviving moribund textile mills industries depending on cotton outputs for production that would bring high foreign exchange in return, the entire value chain development of cotton would create jobs and have multiplier effect on other sectors such as livestock, poultry, pharmaceuticals, among others.

He, however, lamented inadequate cotton production in the country and losses recorded as a result of contamination by foreign mater during cotton processing, which he said, reduces monetary value of Nigerian cotton among its peers, noting that the intervention provided by Federal Government on cotton as supervised by Arewa Cotton would provide effective solutions.

“The project for the prevention of cotton contamination in West Africa has made the current Administration of Goodluck Jonathan focus on the findings of a Fast Track Project in Cotton-producing regions to identify alarming levels of contamination in seed cotton and lint as well as potentials for substantial reduction of contamination (up to 75%) through appropriate information and training programme.

“This leads to collaborative efforts on the Public Private Partnership arrangement which aims to implement a comprehensive quality approach to increasing production volume and reducing contamination along entire value chain from production, ginning and trading. The general objective is to increase the income of small-holder farmers by improving their crop cultivation practices and reducing lint contamination,” he said.

Also, Akinwunmi Adesina, minister of agriculture and rural development ,revealed that the Federal Government had increased its intervention through Growth Enhancement Scheme, especially to cotton farmers in order to achieve the objectives set for the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, which centres on the empowerment of farmers for improved farming capacity.

The minister, represented by Abiodun Bolarinwa, assistant-director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Ogun State office, said the Federal Government in conjunction with various state governments had been subsidising farming inputs, adding: “We are also coming fully in cotton processing and international partnerships to revive our moribund textile mills.”

Meanwhile, the Ogun state government has approved 10,000 hectares of land for cotton farming under the supervision of Arewa Cotton as part of its effort to revive the culture of commercial farming through the establishment of plantations, just as it disclosed that the State had already started Cocoa and Cashew plantations.

Ronke Sokefun, Commissioner for Agriculture, who was represented by Lanre Bisiriyu, the Permanent Secretary, said that the State government approved 10,000 hectares of land for Cotton farming based on its intention to improve cotton production and processing in the country as well as to ensure that interested farmers have enough land for cash crop plantations.

RAZAQ AYINLA