Ogun state government will continue to improve the state’s agricultural economy by increasing farmers’ income and ensuring sustainable food security across the state.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Bolu Owotomo disclosed while commissioning a cassava processing centre, equipped with solar-powered boreholes, culvert, and crèche in Kila, Odeda Local Government Area of the state.
He said the facility would enhance quality of cassava production by the processors, increase their income and would further transform people’s standard of living at the grassroots.
Hon. Owotomo explained that the culvert would give easy access to the market, while the solar-powered borehole would make available quality water for processing of the tubers into high-quality cassava flour, known as ’Lafun’.
The Commissioner noted that the project was in tandem with the vision of the present administration, under the FGN/ OGSG (IFAD-Assited) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), to boost food production across the state and Nigeria at large, adding that laudable achievements had been recorded through implementation of projects in eight participating LGAs, which include, Obafemi-Owode, Ifo, Odogbolu, Yewa North and South, Ijebu East, Ijebu North East, and Odeda.
He urged farmers to make judicious use of the infrastructure, by constituting an operation and maintenance committee for the project to attract more support.
Also speaking, the Acting Project Manager, VCDP, Mrs. Temitope Ajisafe revealed that the Programme was meant for registered farmers, who engaged in food production, processing, and marketing at the grassroots.
In his remarks, the Vice Chairman, Odeda LG, Hon. Nasir Yaya appreciated the government, saying it was a privilege to benefit from the laudable project which would enhance processors’ productivity, enjoining beneficiaries to maximally utilise the infrastructure.
Responding on behalf of other farmers, Mrs. Omolara Aremu and Chief Lamidi Tajudeen lauded government for providing the centre, describing it as a gesture that would boost their production, seeking for government intervention in the area of provision of mechanised implement, chemicals, among others for farmers in the area.
