Agriculture
OGUN Government, on Friday, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting farmers toward contributing significantly to the state economy and enhancing their livelihood.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Bolu Owotomo, stated this during the flag-off of distribution of fertilizers and other biological inputs to farmers in Ikenne Agricultural Zone.
Owotomo said the programme was organised by the State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), in conjunction with the zone’s Value Chain Development Firms, AGRIQ Business Services Limited, FishShoal Nigeria and Aquatic Hub Afrique Network, at Obafemi-Owode Egba.
According to him, the exercise was in continuation of the present administration’s efforts at ensuring food security in the state.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Samuel Adeogun, said that the inputs’ distribution was aimed at increasing production of food and productivity among farmers in the state.
He stated that more than 30,000 farmers had benefited from various interventions by the state government, to ensure food sufficiency and security.
“Let me assure you that the present administration is not resting on its oars and will continue to focus on the agricultural sector, which is one of the major pillars of the ‘ISEYA’ mantra of this administration.
“You will soon be hearing of other interventions of the state government, particularly in this sector, to ensure that nobody goes hungry in the state,” he said.
The commissioner urged youths to engage in agriculture, stressing that mechanisation and technology-driven practices would be promoted to position Ogun among the leading states in Nigeria.
In his remark, the Project Manager, Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), Agric sector, Dr Oluseyi Olugbire, said that the project was targetted at improving the livelihood and production of small-scale holder-farmers in the state, urging them to utilise the support judiciously.
On his part, the Managing Director and CEO of AGRIQ Business, Dr Ibikunle Onasanya, said that the inputs would be beneficial to the farmers and positively impact their outputs.
Onasanya encouraged the beneficiaries to embrace the gesture and use the biological inputs for their intended purposes.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Olaniyi Olowu, from Ikenne Local Government Area and Mrs Temitope Solomon, from Sagamu, expressed gratitude to government for the distribution, toward improving their farming businesses.
They pledged to efficiently use the support to increase production.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the local government areas under Ikenne agricultural zone include: Obafemi Owode, Sagamu, Remo North and Ikenne (NAN)
F.A
May 31, 2024
Tags: For improved economy Ogun govt support to farmers
