Over 30,000 farmers benefit from intervention programmes — Agric Commissioner
Over 30,000 farmers have benefitted from various intervention programmes put in place for farmers by the Ogun State Government.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Bolu Owotomo disclosed this at the flag off ceremony for distribution of agricultural inputs and services to benefiting farmers under the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) in Yewa Agricultural zone.
Owotomo said the event organised in conjunction with the zone’s Value Chain Development Firms, RBS-JDPC-ABEOCCIMA Consortium and International Business For Agricultural Development (IBAD Limited) was to further affirm the state Government commitment to the Agricultural sector.
He stated that over 20,000 farmers have been supported through OGSTEP with significant Investments exceeding 600 million naira covering mechanization services, supply of fertilizer, seedlings and stems, agrochemicals, day old chicks, fish feed, poultry feed, training and capacity building among others.
The Commissioner said the State Government had also facilitated off-taker linkages for expected yields with an estimated 107 thousand metric tonnes of produce anticipated from last season production.
“Today we gather not to merely distribute inputs but to sow seed of change and progress, through this initiatives, we aim to empower our farmers with resources, knowledge and support to enhance productivity, improve livelihood and ensure food security,” he said.
In her welcome address, the coordinator, OGSTEP, Mrs Mosunmola Owo-Odunsi, represented by the Programme Manager, OGSTEP Agric, Dr Oluseyi Olugbire highlighted the various achievement of the program, noting that the testimonies received have so far proven that the state government is indeed committed to the well-being of farmers.
In their separate submissions, the managing Director RBS Consortium, Mr Akinremi Osijo and his counterpart from IBAD Limited, Mr Jamiu Adeyemi said the event was to create visibility for the OGSTEP programme and its stakeholders efforts in transforming the zone agribusiness environment and its governance for collective wealth creation through strategic, futuristic thinking and commodity markets.
According to them, the event was to help industry stakeholders understand the interdependence nature in co-creating utility value and wealth through Agricultural commodity markets as well as bridge the gaps in the food and agricultural supply chain.
The distributed inputs include high quality seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and mechanical services. Additionally, training programmes, market linkages and equipping farmers with skills and to adopt best practices are also provided.
