Osun state empowers 1000 farmers with 100,000 seedlings, agro-chemicals

Osun State government in Southwest Nigeria has empowered 1000 farmers with 100,000 cocoa seedlings. It also distributed agro-chemicals, hand-spraying tools, limes and other farm inputs to farmers across the State.

Speaking at the inauguration, distribution of seedlings and farm produce, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola said the efforts were geared towards actualising its set objectives to reposition agriculture and make Osun the food basket of the nation.

In a related development, the state governor also inaugurated Osun Broilers Outgrowers Production Scheme III to enhance the capacity of the livestock production and turn around the fortunes of the scheme for profitability and attractiveness.

“Farmers in each of the Local Government Areas across got 1,500 cocoa seedlings, with special preference for the Cocoa Producing Local Government Areas.”

He explained that the initiative was designed to support farmers and cushion the effects of the erratic weather of year 2020 which resulted in prolonged drought and flooding in different parts of the State.

Distributing the farm inputs to farmers at the Agriculture Demonstration Centre, Aisu, Ede, Governor Oyetola noted that the initiative was aimed at actualising the agricultural revolution agenda of the government.

He stressed the initiative would help to boost the agricultural sector, thus supporting the systematic replacement of the existing old cocoa plantations and other crops with improved high-yielding varieties to ensure Osun becomes the largest cocoa producer in Southwest Nigeria.

“It is pertinent to remind this gathering that agriculture remains the mainstay of the State economy and the sector has vast potential for generating revenue, employment, provision of agro-allied raw materials, and supply of food to the teeming populace of the State.

“We have approved the establishment of 10,000 hectares of farmland to be used as a farm settlement at F3 in Ife-South Local Government in which 400 hectares of the farmland have been cleared to empower one thousand (1,000) youths in the cultivation of arable crops. Also, 23 hectares of farmland have been cleared at Ifon, in Orolu Local Government as a Demonstration Site for youths and women empowerment and agro processing centres.

“Also, the State Government established a Demonstration Site at AISU, Ede, where Greenhouse, with irrigation facilities installed for all-year-round tomatoes production, construction of fish ponds, and milk collection centre to demonstrate good agricultural practices,”  he added.

Oyetola said the government plans to establish one demonstration centre each in the other two Senatorial Districts.

He explained that the Extension Services delivery arm of the Osun State Agricultural Development Programme (OSSADEP) has been fortified to avail farmers of the up-to-date farming practices, while the Osun State Agricultural Development Corporation (OSSADEC) and Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security have been repositioned with the procurement of new tractors and its implements.

The governor said a sum of two hundred million Naira (#200,000,000.00) has been released for the Broilers Outgrowers Production Scheme to empower poultry farmers with day-old broiler chicks, feeds, drugs, vaccine, and other logistics to rear them up to six weeks when they would have attained market weight for ready offtakers.

In a remark, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Dayo Adewole said, the State Government would supply farmers with day-old chicks and feeds to aid them in launching the scheme in their respective domains.

“The workable mechanisms to embark on a tour of milk collection centres across the state have equally been put in place.

“The new phase of the Scheme had been designed to make agribusiness more profitable, attractive, interesting and rewarding.”

The Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Osun Chapter, Alhaji Sulaiman Araokanmi, commended the prompt intervention of government to revamp agriculture in the State.

The beneficiaries expressed delight and commended the government for continuously prioritising agriculture to retain its position as the mainstay of the state economy.