An oil palm farmer in Edo State, Robinson Imade, has called on the federal and state governments to remove tax duty from farm implements to encourage farmers in the country. Imade , who appealed Benin, the Edo State capital, in an interview with our correspondent, also appealed for tax holidays, as well as fertilizers at a subsidized rate. He said such incentives would not only encourage more people to embrace agriculture but would boost local production.

“Governments should continue to assist farmers by allowing them to have access to farm machinery as provided by Agricultural Development Programmes (ADP) and FADAMA.  “Before now, the Federal Government used to give 100 per cent of palm seedlings free. For example, if you bought 500 palm oil seedlings, the Federal Government would equally give you 500 free seedlings. Also, when you bought two bags of fertilizer, the same number of bags would be given to you free of charge, but today, the reverse is the case. Such incentives farmers used to enjoy are no longer there,’’ he said. He urged the government to encourage all-year farming activities through a massive establishment of irrigation system across the country to boost food production.

SOURCE: DAILY TRUST