Lagos – The Farmers Empowerment and Development Association of Nigeria (FEDAN) on Friday said it was set to create a virtual market for garri, to reduce the influence of middlemen as price determinants.
FEDAN’s National President, Mr Sola Adepomola, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that farmers had remained impoverished because of the activities of middlemen in the sale of produce.
Adepomola said the association was also going to monitor the sale of other commodities like vegetables, maize, catfish and others, with a view to improving the farmers’ well being.
“It is a sad thing to say that farmers are still not making as much profit as is expected because of the over dependence on middlemen.
“These people (middlemen), to a large extent, determine the prices of commodities produced by farmers who put in a lot of resources to put food on the tables of Nigerians.
“At the end of the day, the farmers might not make up the cost of production because they must sell their produce; that is why they just sell at any price.
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“FEDAN has listened to the groaning of farmers and is making plans to have a virtual market for commodities, especially garri,’’ Adepomola said.
According to the official, middlemen buy the produce at cheaper prices and take them to the market to sell at very exorbitant prices, while the farmers lose.
Adepomola called on government to serve as off-takers (bulk buyers) to reduce the farmers’ dependence on middlemen.
He said that when this was done, more youths would be encouraged to go into farming. (NAN)