Alhaji Umaru Sanda, the Gangwari Ganye of Ganye Chiefdom, Adamawa State, has urged the Federal and Adamawa Governments to provide subsidy for Cocoa, Coffee, Kolanuts and other agricultural produce farmers in his domain.
The first class traditional ruler made the call at a news conference to mark his 20th anniversary on the throne, held in his Palace in Ganye town on Sunday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Sanda was turbaned on May 13, 2000,
The monarch said the appeal was necessary to suuport the farmers’ zeal to contribute to achieving national food security and economic growth.
He pointed out that because of the favourable climatic condition of the area, farmers were cultivating agricultural produce such as Maize, Sorghum, Rice, Beans, Sesame seed, Sugarcane as well as Bananas and Mangoes in commercial quantity.
He further explained that Cocoa, Kolanuts, Coffee, Oranges and Pineapples were also being cultivated in the area in large quantities.
He noted that 80 per cent of national food production was supplied by small and local famers, hence the need for federal and state governments to give much and appropriate attention to them.
“We are in the period of economic diversification from over dependence on oil, driving revenue to agricultural based economy.
“What recently happened in global oil markets should be a lesson for us to fully go back to our agricultural based economy.
“In doing so, federal and state governments should lay emphasis on community based agricultural subsidy to local farmers to guarantee full scale agricultural production and national economic growth,” he urged.
Sanda said Ganye Chiefdom has a conducive climatic condition, fertile arable soil and land suitable for commercial agricultural activities.
According to him, the chiefdom comprises three Local Government Areas of Ganye, Jada and Toungo, which are popularly regarded as the Food Basket of Adamawa.
He pointed out that the area was a hub of cattle and other domestic livestock including goats, sheep and chicken and were also reared in commercial quantity.
He said the Ganye International Cattle market was the second largest in the country after that of Mubi in Northern Adamawa.
“The chiefdom is open to meaningful developmental partners especially in agricultural sectors.
“The largest Nigeria National Park, Gashaka/Gumti is situated at Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba state and in Toungo Local Government Area of Ganye Chiefdom of Adamawa state,” he said.
He said the national park was the largest and most diverse conservation enclave in Nigeria, attracting several tourists within and outside the country.
On security challenges, he attributed the situation to decay and collapse of social morality in the society as well as unemployment.
Sanda recommended the need for collective decision and efforts from both parents, religious leaders, traditional rulers and government to tackle the situation.
On COVID-19 pandemic, the monarch said the chiefdom was collaborating with government and health personnel to ensure that preventive measures put in place were strictly adhered to.
He said some of the preventive measures to contain the spread of the virus were the closedown of the Ganye international cattle and other major markets in the area.
The monarch, however, complained of the activity of illegal miners in the chiefdom and urged government to halt it in national interest.
Sanda said the chiefdom was endowed with rich gold, magnetite, gemstones and gypsum, among other mineral deposits, attracting illegal mining activities. (NAN)
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