Farmers in developing countries, mostly working on small scale, family farms, have long suffered from government’s mis- and under-investment in smallholder agriculture.
Lack of access to natural resources, inappropriate policies, thin and uncompetitive markets, weak rural infrastructure, inadequate production and financial services, and a deteriorating natural resource base – all these have all contributed to creating an environment in which farming has frequently been risky and unprofitable for smallholders.
Farmers all over the world have tried to address their conditions of hunger and poverty by organising themselves into farmers’, producers and various self-help groups and associations.
Farmers’ and rural producers’ organisations refer to independent, non-governmental, membership-based rural organizations of part or full-time self-employed smallholders and family farmers, pastoralists, artisanal fishers, landless people, women, small entrepreneurs and indigenous peoples.
They range from formal groups covered by national legislation, such as cooperatives, national, State farmers unions, to self-help groupings and associations. They can be organised from local, to national, to sub regional, as mny of these groups have mixed men and women farmers as members.
One of them is the Oyo State Farmers Association.
This Association was formed through the initiative of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, and during the administration of then Military Governor of Oyo State, Colonel Nwosu.
The Association became a child of necessity as a result of prolonged crises among various farmers’ groups in the State during that period.
It was the Alaafin who advised the then Military Governor to allow for the formation of an umbrella body of all farmers in the state for harmonious working relationship, and which was endorsed by the then Military Governor.
Since the Association registered with the State Government as an Umbrella body of all farmers in the state, farmers continue to coexist peacefully and harmoniously.
However, sequel to the death of former Baale Agbe of Oyo State (Head of the farmers), a new Baale Agbe of Oyo State, chosen by the Baale Agbe in Council, has been presented to the Alaafin of Oyo, who is the Patron , for endorsement at the ancient Palace in Oyo town.
The new Baale Agbe is Chief Jacob Omolewu Ogundare.
In his address before the endorsement, Oba Adeyemi said the State Farmers Association “is essential for the empowerment, poverty alleviation and advancement of farmers and the rural poor”.
According to him, “politically, it will strengthen the political power of farmers, by increasing the likelihood that their needs and opinions are heard by policy makers and the public. Economically, it can help farmers gain skills, access inputs, form enterprises, process and market their products more effectively to generate higher incomes.
“By organising farmers, the Association can access information needed to produce, add value, market their commodities and develop effective linkages with input agencies such as financial service providers, as well as output markets. It can as well achieve economies of scale, thereby lowering costs and facilitating the processing and marketing of agricultural commodities for individual farmers”
The Paramount Ruler, therefore, enjoined farmers in the state to work harmoniously for their overall benefits.
Earlier, Secretary to the Baale Agbe in Council, Oyo State, Alhaji Chief Abdullahi Kasali, who lauded the Alaafin for his visionary leadership qualities on the creation of the Association, announced Ogundare as the new Baale Agbe of Oyo State.
