Ogun govt encourages farmers on tree planting, targets planting one million before Dec.

Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta

Towards achieving the mandate of planting 1 million trees within the year, the Ogun State Government through the Ministry of Forestry has given farmers residing within its forest reserves free tree seedlings, to encourage them to plant alongside their crops.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Forestry, Mr. Timothy Olatunji, who disclosed this during an inspection visit to Areas J4, J2 and J3 Forest reserves, said planting tree seedlings would help restore and regenerate the forest reserves to their rightful positions.

Mr. Olatunji revealed that some farmers had already planted up to 5,000 seedlings alongside crops in their different enclaves, encouraging others yet to do so to approach the Ministry for free tree seedlings.

“We are moving around the forest reserves to meet with farmers, and they will be allowed to plant crops like cassava and maize for a period of two years. We will also encourage them to have free tree seedlings to plant”, he said.

The Permanent Secretary further revealed that the visit is to forestall any illegality within the forest reserves, warning those involved in illegal tree felling to desist from acts of deforestation.

Responding, a farmer in one of the enclaves, Mr. Lateef Oguntayo, from Aba-Oba village, Area J3, Ijebu-East, appreciated the State government for allowing them to dwell within the forest reserves, assuring of cooperation from the farmers towards ensuring that the mandate of the Ministry is achieved, and the forest reserves protected under their watch.