The Justice Development and Peace Centre (JDPC) Ondo state Diocese, has called on the Ondo state government to promote the enrolment of agricultural insurance policies for smallholder farmers.
They made the call in order to strengthen the State Amotekun Security Network Corps on constant security surveillance on different farm lands especially in the rural communities across the state.
The JDPC in collaboration with Action Aid Nigeria (AAN), at a day stakeholders consultative meeting on 2023 Ondo State Agriculture Budget in Akure.
They said this would help in reducing the rising insecurity in farms; farm raiding, cattle destructions, kidnapping, climate and other natural disasters farmers are confronting in order to continue farm practices in certain communities.
The JDPC programme officer, Catholic Diocese, Akure, Austin Ogunleye,
while speaking with journalists after the meeting also called on the State Ministry of Agriculture and OSAEC to increase awareness.
He also urged them on sensitization of stakeholders on the new agricultural policy as part of effort towards promoting improved citizen participation in budget process.
Ogunleye said, “as part of gender equality captured in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the Smallholder Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria, Ondo State Chapter request that gender friendly machines like Power Tiller should be made available for efficient farming within the state.
“Ondo state government should ensure scaling up specific budget lines for agro-women farmers, and ensure full access to the budget lines created as strategic approach to increase food production, reduce hunger and poverty and achieve the Maputo/Malabo commitment.
