An Agricultural Planning, Research and Statistics Officer, Mr Julius Karma, has called for stronger enforcement of standard measurements in Niger State to stop farmers and buyers from being short-changed.
Karma spoke during a practical demonstration organized by the Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development Value Chain Development Programme (FG/IFAD-VCDP) for beneficiaries in Doko and Kutigi, Lavun Local Government Area.
He said agricultural commodities were often sold using assumed weights, with a bag regarded as 90 kilogrammes sometimes containing only 75kg or 80kg.
“Policy backed by government enforcement will force sellers to adhere to standard weights and measurements. We are calling on government at all levels to work with market unions and commodity associations to ensure compliance,” he stated.
The expert explained that farmers and processors could not sustain standard measurements alone because other producers, marketers and traders might continue using irregular measures.
Karma called for effective enforcement backed by legislation, saying standard measurements would ensure buyers receive what they pay for and sellers are paid according to the actual quantity supplied.
He added that uniform measurements would improve the credibility of agricultural products and make them more competitive in larger and international markets.
According to him, “There has to be a policy and the policy has to be enforceable. Before you can enforce this policy, there has to be legislation. Individual farmers and processors can not sustain the practice alone because they operate alongside other producers, marketers and traders who may continue using irregular measurements.”
Earlier, the State VCDP Business, Marketing and Development Officer, Mrs Elizabeth Yisa, said beneficiaries were expected to become ambassadors of standard measurements and quality, describing the use of underweight scales as wrong.
She disclosed that VCDP could link compliant beneficiaries with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other relevant bodies for product registration and wider market access.
A representative of the Lavun Local Government Chairman and Director of Agriculture, Lawan Mohammed, pledged to sensitize farmers, processors and market leaders on standard measurements.
Market union representatives also pledged to encourage producers and processors to adopt standard weighing scales.
Some farmers said lack of knowledge about weighing scales had discouraged them from using them, while others feared being cheated when traders handled the equipment.
They called for wider sensitisation beyond participants and pledged to pass the knowledge to other VCDP beneficiaries.
Some participants, including Mrs Ruth Joshua and Mallam Mohammed Ndagi, said farmers had previously been cheated when selling produce without weighing it, while middlemen later used scales to repackage and resell the commodities at higher prices.
They added that adopting standard measurements would protect farmers and buyers and ensure agricultural commodities were traded according to their actual quantities.
Expert seeks enforcement of standard weights to curb sharp practices in Niger markets