REFILS verdict blames SW Governments on non agric performance

* Condemns cashew wastages 

The recently held 34th Annual South West, Zonal Research Extension Farmers Inputs Linkage System (REFILS) has apportioned the non development of Agriculture in the region to Government deliberate non release of approved budgets for extension activities towards increased food production using the best practices.

Also the wastages being recorded in cashew productions were also condemned by state holders.

These were part of the eight powerful observations issued in the communique made available after the two day meetings of the 3rd and 4th of April, 2023 called at the instance of Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Moorplantation, Ibadan.

All the stakeholders from the sector both in the private and public including farmers, researchers, scientists, extension workers from all the five states of the Agricultural Development Program (ADPs) in the SW region unanimously agreed that " poor funding of extension activities of ADPs as well as non release of approved budgets in most of the SW states hindered agricultural development"

The communique also made an observation on poor performance of the agricultural sector based on the wide variance between the extension policy making and execution as they pointed that " There is an existing gap between policy making and policy implementation for extension activities in the country"

Following the repeatedly climate change negative impacts on food security, the participants at REFILS workshop emphasized the need for capacity building to the states' ADPs on adaptation to climate change, saying there is need to train extension workers on how to conduct trails and  writing of reports towards food productivity enhancement.

Stakeholders pondered on low extension workers' ratio to farmers in the SW states with special observations to very poor participation of Oyo and Osun ADPs in REFILS activities.

Also, the communique condemned the wastages being recorded on cashew production acassioned by lack of processing technologies in the hands of farmers, adding that transportation of agricultural goods was still a great challenge to food security in the country.