Oyo Assembly Seeks More Government Support for Farmers

The state legislators further appealed to the state government to assist farmers with loan facilities through the Agric Credit Corporation (ACCOS) and the Oyo State Agribusiness Agency,  in order to boost their farming activities and economic capacity.

The appeal was contained in the resolutions made by the House while deliberating on a Motion brought before it by the member representing Oriire State Constituency, Hon. Jacob Abidoye Bamigboye.

The motion was on the need for the Oyo state Government to increase support for farmers in agrarian communities as they prepare for late rain/dry season farming.

Bamigboye argued that the fear of the unknown, in terms of insecurity and destruction of farmlands by Fulani herders among others, made farmers to either cultivate small hectares of land or abandon their farms at the onset of the rainy season.

He stated that it was time to map out more ways of supporting and encouraging farmers across the state so as to ensure food security, enhance bumper harvest and ultimately help in reducing prices of foodstuffs in the markets.

The Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, while also stressing the vital need for more government assistance to farmers in the state, announced the composition of an adhoc committee to furnish the House with activities of various agencies responsible for giving support and loan facilities to farmers in the state.

In their contributions, Honourable Asimiyu Alarape (Minority Leader), Honourable Olamide Olagoke Akinajo (Ibadan North East 1) and Deacon Olatunde Kehinde (Akinyele 2) emphasised the need to encourage millions of farmers in the state to go into mechanised farming.

He stressed that the cost of getting and hiring tractors and other farm inputs is beyond the reach of most farmers, hence they appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to come to the aid of farmers.

The lawmakers equally enjoined the local government councils in the state to extend all necessary support to farmers in their various communities.

While lending their voices to the matter, Honourable Simeon Oyeleke (Ogo-Oluwa, Surulere) and Honourable Seyi Adisa called for prompt and early release of loans and other support to farmers in the state, while also urging the state government to extend support to all categories of farmers across the state.