Border closure: Farmers in Kwara count blessings

Date: 2019-12-01

Farmers and local foodstuff sellers in Kwara South Senatorial District say the partial closure of the nation's land borders is bringing them more patronage and high profits.

Alhaji Sanusi Adebayo, a yam dealer in Ajase-Ipo, said the preference for foreign rice had always impacted negatively on his sales and income, but the situation had changed.

"The high preference for foreign rice has never helped our businesses.

"It has been a problem we have been contending with as traders in yam and other local commodities for a very long time.

"It has always been a kind of stiff market competition between foreign rice and local foodstuffs like yams, cassava, beans.

"Even for those of us involved in local rice business, it was the same low patronage until this partial closure of the border changed things for the better.

"I can tell you that since the closure of borders, things have changed positively; apart from the increase in patronage, our income has also been boosted.

"Some of our members who had left the business due to economic downturn are now returning as the market has been more attractive unlike in the period before the closure," he said.

Mrs Theresa David, also a yam dealer in Iloffa told NAN on Saturday that the partial border closure had turned around the fortune of her business for the better.

"You can see that people have started using yam to do pottage and other recipes during weddings, engagements and other social events more than in the past.

"It is just a matter of if what you want is not available you make do with what you have.

"The unavailability of foreign rice due to the partial border closure has forced people to shift to other foodstuffs like yams, semovita, beans, etc.

"Unlike before the closure, I can now conveniently sell three full truckloads of yam tubers within five market days.

"Candidly, the border closure to me is a necessity that will help our businesses to grow and will also create employment for our youths," she said.

Alhaji Audu Abubakar, a beans seller, said his sale, supply and income had improved considerably since the partial closure of the borders.

"Before, patronage for beans was not that encouraging, but within the period the borders were closed and now things have improved a lot.

"Before, I sold like two bags in five market days, but now the demand has increased to like five bags, as more people now use beans in place of rice which is now scarce and costly," he said.

Malam Abioye Dada, a farmer, on his part, said he had also experienced higher patronage and profit on selling of his farm produce since the closure of the borders.

"To me, this closure of the borders is a real blessing as there is significant increase in patronage and of course the profit.

"It is good for our future, it is good for our survival as a nation; when there is market for our produce, it will surely attract more youths toward embracing farming," he said.

Chief Festus Awoniyi, a community leader and a farmer, said a number of the youth had indicated their readiness to take to farming following the positive turn of events.

"Quite a number of youth have approached me of recent seeking some portions of land to start as farmers.

"This is a good thing for our future, our community and the country as far as attracting the youth to agriculture is concerned.

"It will also take the youth away from illicit acts and other vices.

"It's a gradual thing, this border closure on its own will solve a lot of problems, and I know one day we will get there," he said.

Also speaking, Mrs Mogbonjubola Awoniyi, Chairperson Market and Traders Association in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, described the border closure as a blessing in disguise.

Awoniyi, who is also the Iyaloja (Market Leader) in Omu-Aran, said it was very difficult at the initial stage as the scarcity of foreign rice that followed the closure became very tough for members to handle.

"But I can tell you, my members, especially those selling other local commodities like yam, beans, gari are now smiling to the bank.

"We also took steps to invite dealers in local rice, which is more available than the foreign one, and because people have embraced it, we also make our own profit from selling," she said.

Awoniyi urged the government at all levels to promote unhindered access to credit facilities for traders to expand their businesses.

"Aside that, we also need location of more modern markets in towns and villages to improve sales and storage of farm produce," she said.

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Kola Shittu     Tunde Akanbi     UITH     Alore     Saka Keji     Jare Olatundun     John Olobayo     Col. Adedipe     UNILORIN Alumni     Kolo     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     College Of Health     Olatunji Moronfoye     Agbarigidoma     NFAI     Okin High School     ARMTI     KWASIEC     Forgo Battery Company Limited     COVID     Ilorin     Yusuf Arowosaye     Paul Odama     Mahee Abdulkadir     Ajikobi     Saka Asiat Ayinke     Makama     GGDSS Pakata     Funmilayo Zubair     Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa     Nupe     Peter Amogbonjaye     Erin-ile     Emir Of Kano     Niyi Ogundiran     Abdullahi Adisa Akodudu     Abubakar Ndakene     Government House     Riskat Opakunle     IQRA College     Orisun Igbomina     Yusuf Abdulkadir     KWSUED     Moses Salami     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Chief Imam Of Offa     Tafida Of Ilorin     Abdulrazak Shehu Akorede     Jawondo     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Olatunji Ibrahim     Eleja Taiwo Banu     Alloy Chukwuemeka     Dan-Kazeem     Adijat Adebiyi     Kwara State Polytechnic     First Lady     Moro     Ayo Salami     Lateef Fagbemi     Sheriff Shagaya     Kwara Liberation Group     Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum     Muideen Olaniyi Alalade     Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye     Okin Group     KSIRS     Jamiu Oyawoye     Ibrahim Abdulqadir Abikan     Mufutau Olatinwo     Ghali Muhammed     Kwara State Television (KWTV)     TVC Female National Debate     Ajakaye     Third Estate     Hamid Bobboyi     Isiaka Yusuf    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi     Rafiu Ibrahim     Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa     Olayinka Olaogun     Gbemi Saraki     Yekini Adio     Hikmah AbdulKareem     Abdulhakeem Adelaja Amao     Olaoye B. Felix     Fatima Abolore Jimoh     Ahmad Fatima Bisola     UNIFEMGA     James Ayeni     Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq     Adebara     Tunji Olawuyi     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Kawu     Danladi     Ojuekun Sarumi     Kwara United     Kayode Ibrahim     Saidu Isa     Yusuf Arowosaye     NFAI     Nnazua     Funmilayo Oniwa     Sayomi     Shero     Dasuki Belgore     Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye     Talaka Parapo     SSA Youth Engagement     Ajasse-Ipo     Ramadan     Balogin Alanamu     Kwara State Internal Revenue Service     Adeleke Ogungbe     Rice Farmers Association Of Nigeria     Oba Abdulraheem     New Nigeria People’s Party     Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore     KSIRS     Public Holiday     Irepodun     Sebastine Obasi     Shuaib Abdulkadir     Siraj Oyewale     Ebola     Tunde Kazeem     Egbewole     Babaita     Isaac Gbenle     Suleiman Alege Kuranga     Shehu Alimi Foundation     Abdullahi Biffo     Owu Fall     Dauda Adesola     Saka Saadu     Kayode Oyin Zubair     Bello Oyedepo     Bond     Ogbondoroko     Sulyman Buhari     Saidu Yaro Musa     Funmi Salau     Baboko     Unilorin FM     Roseline Oni Aremu     Yakubu Shaaba     PAACO-PCL Consortium     Allocation     Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa     AGM Professional Services     Moji Makanjuola     Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed     Michael Nzwekwe