Determined to ensure bountiful food production for 2024 planting season, Ogun State government has flagged-off distribution of high quality seeds, fertiliser, herbicides, pesticides and modern mechanisation services, targeting over 500 farmers from different clusters in Abeokuta Agricultural Zone.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, who spoke at the event, organised by his Ministry and Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), in partnership with NAMDAM Integrated Services Limited and OKD Agro Services Limited, at Model Farm Estate, Owowo, Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state, said empowering farmers for sustainable agriculture was a pathway to stimulate economic growth.
Hon. Owotomo added that the distribution aimed at empowering farmers with resources, knowledge and support, to enhance productivity, improve livelihood and ensure food security.
He explained that the state government had recently supported over 20,000 farmers through OGSTEP Agric, with significant investments exceeding N600million, covering mechanisation services supply of fertilizer, seeds and stems, agro chemical and others, including day old chicks, fish feeds, poultry feeds, capacity building workshops, adding that off-takers’ linkages for expected yields was also facilitated with an estimated 107,000 tonnes of produce anticipated from last season’s production.
The Commissioner stressed that as government continues to strive towards agricultural advancement, private sector, civil society and farmers should recommit to the cause by working together to build a thriving sector, in terms of raw materials, food supply and employment generation.
Remarking, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Samuel Adeogun, pointed out that the distribution of inputs to different clusters was to make food abundant for the people and give succour to farmers, hinting that it would be replicated in other geo-political zones of the state.
Adeogun admonished farmers to make effective use of the inputs, promising that issue of herdsmen destroying their farms would be checkmated.
In their separate remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Leke Otegbeye, represented by Mr. Jimoh Fadipe and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Angel Adelaja, noted that the roles of farmers could not be over emphasised, enjoining them to maximally utilise the inputs distributed for increased production to take the agricultural sector to the next level.
Earlier, the Programme Manager, OGSTEP Agric., Dr. Oluseyi Olugbire, assured farmers of more government and partners’ support, saying inputs distributed would enhance their productivity.
Contributing, the Chairman, Association Estates Farmers of Ogun State, Mr. Sunday Odu, in his goodwill message, commended the present administration for its support and fulfilling the promise made to the farmers.
Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries, Dr. Eric Igalo, representing Chain Makers’ Farmers Cluster and Princess Olubunmi Soyebi, representing Peculiar Farmers Cluster, appreciated the state government and partners for the gesture, promising that the inputs given would be judiciously used.
