ACFA: Working Towards Food Sustainability

            The first year into the setting-up of the group known as All Cooperative Farmers Association (ACFA)has been very successful.

         When the setting up process was on, many people, including some officials of the various government parastatals expected to work in streamlining the activities of cooperative societies and farmers in Edo state, thought that this was like others previously operating in the state.
but presently most of these high ranking officials are working on modalities to partner with ACFA.

All Cooperaive Farmers Association (ACFA)

President Jonathan 

Appeals For Calm

AGENCY REPORTS

— May 16, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to Nigerians to be calm and prayerful as Government intensifies efforts to wipe out terrorism ravaging parts of
the country.
Jonathan made the appeal in Abuja on Friday at the opening of the 2014 Synod of the Abuja Diocese (Anglican Communion).
Represented by the Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, Jonathan urged Nigerians not to despair in the face of terror ..... Read More

ACFA Farm Pictures

                                                               GoftaPackaged Garri

                                                                 Edo Traditional Yam

ACFA! Working to Boost Agriculture in Edo State

IN every society, the agricultural sector, takes a prominent position in the scheme of things. From providing food for the teeming populace to creating employment for a vast majority of people, agriculture has played and is still playing critical roles to the sustenance of economic and social growth in any society.
Since the creation of Edo State by the then regime of General Ibrahim Babangida out of the former Bendel State in August 27, 1991 and with an estimate 3, 218,332 people, agriculture has been a major source of sustainance.
In Edo State, the climate is mixed with wet and dry seasons, thereby making it conducive for agricultural production. Crops produced in the state include cassava, rice, palm products, cocoa, fruits, groundnuts, plantain, pineapple, yam, vegetables, tomatoes, cashew, rubber, among others. Read More

ACFA Introduces; COMBINE FARMING! A BREAKTHROUGH FOR EDO COOPERATIVE FARMERS

Edo state farmers have never had a direct access to market to trade their goods because of middlemen invasion. Base on this development, the co-operatives and individual farmers finds it difficult to produce the quantity and quality kind of crop they would otherwise have grown. Hence, their produce spoiled due to lack of storage facilities and bad roads network, absence of these infrastructures has always hinder smooth operations of every Edo Farmer.

Of cause this proves to be similar problems in many other countries through. Nevertheless, All Cooperative Farmers Association (ACFA) have decided to take a bold step for success by organizing all farmers into one settlement and begin to contract each farmers’ group to grow predetermined types and quantities of fruit and vegetables. This will help the Association to remove the middle men by guaranteeing a fair fixed price to farmers, for each type of produce to be renegotiated annually. Collection stations will be built in the middle of each growing area so that the needed variety of produce could be assembled every day. Weighing and grading will be carried out transparently in the presence of the farmers. Refrigerated trucks which shall be purchased by the Association will help to reduce losses. In this way, they will be able to provide all necessary amenities and manage the mental skills and quality administration so as to represent All Co-operative farmers in the state and beyond.

ACFA TO HELP UNDO FARMERS PLIGHT

          

           Before now, our lives as farmers have been made miserable by those we thought will give us convenience and guarantee to succeed. But they made us pass through laborious process to benefit, just a bundle of cassava cuttings.

          

This unprecedented stress has caused the lives of many farmers to be shortened. We, the Edo Farmers are treated just like slaves, as we are given just a measure of food as will keep the breath in our bodies. Those of us who are capable to work are forced to work to the last atom of our strength, when it’s clear that they are satisfy with our services, they throw us away just like snail shell.

Imagine the situation in of farmers in some community in the outskirt of the state; where indigenous farmers cash crops are destroyed by a total stranger in the name of a private investor, without pity or concern for the farmers that has spent all their lives pampering the crops so destroyed. These farmers, seeing the growth of the said crops, were  awaiting when they will start to enjoy the fruit of their labour. Only for that thought to be cut short by a brutal non indigenous investors. As you are reading this information, the farmers don’t even have land to farm on presently even in their own community. All their farmlands have been taken away from them. 

              

The most unfortunate situation the farmers are facing is that no were in the state has been dedicated for farming purpose why they are contemplating a large grazing land for herdsmen. Could you imagine sharing my father’s inheritance first to my father’s slave only to leave a remnant to us, the legitimate children. If a specific area has not been earmark for special farming, will it ever augur well for anyone who want to first share our land to stranger before asking us if we also need? This is beating a drum of war! Because our farmers are not yet assured that come rain or sun, they have farmlands that no one/authority will take away from them.

            

Because of this development, no farmers in this state actually knows the meaning of happiness or leisure, no farmers is free, since they are never allowed to take part in the decision making that will enhance their success. The life of all farmers in this state is full of misery and slavery that is the plain truth.