Nigerian Government, Oyo State Government Distributes Palliative to Farmers

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with the Oyo State Government, has distributed palliatives to about 200 poultry farmers who were affected by the 2022 flood disaster.

This was made known in a statement signed by the Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade.

According to the statement, the Oyo State Coordinator for Federal Ministry of Agric and Food Security, Dr Mrs Florence Kakulu said that “the post-disaster palliative was to cushion the effect of the 2022 flood that ravaged the poultry farmers in the state.”

Kakulu stressed that the post-disaster palliative was predicated on the government’s decision to mitigate the effects of the flood, noting that the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security and the Oyo State Government commiserate with the poultry farmers on their loss as a result of the ravages caused by the flood

She commended the Oyo State Government in its various proactive efforts in enhancing farmer’s production and collaboration and revealed that each of the participants would go home with 8 bags of poultry feed, crates and some cash for their logistics, urging the association to always provide accurate data for the government to work with.

Distributing the palliative to the beneficiaries at the National Cereal Research Institute, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, the Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said the Oyo State Government recognised the impact of farmers and felt the loss caused by the flood disaster the previous year.

Olasunkanmi noted that the palliative given would not equate the loss, but would serve as a show of recognition of the importance of the farmers in the state economic development, commending the Oyo State branch of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) for the crucial roles played in the state and Nigeria at large in improving nutritional, economic growth and livelihood of people.

He stated: “This palliative given today is nothing compared to your importance in our economic development but it is done to show that the government recognises your impact and to give this as part of efforts of the Federal Government intervention through Oyo State Government under the leadership of Engr Seyi Makinde.”

The Commissioner revealed that the Oyo State Government would very soon partner with stakeholders and investors on the need to introduce egg power making factories which, according to him, would require standard quality egg production, enough quality per day, as well as enhancing production of eggs throughout the year.

He noted that the state did not have authentic data to work with concerning claims by the association that it had the highest poultry production in the country, urging it to always cooperate with staff of the state Ministry of Agriculture in providing accurate and authentic data, in order to enhance authentication of the association members.

The commissioner, therefore, enjoined the beneficiaries to make adequate use of the palliative, promising that more was in the pipeline.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) Oyo State branch, Elder Oyekunle Omidokun, appreciated the government for providing succour to members in the state, urging the Federal Government to release grains from the nation’s grain reserves to poultry farmers, as their major challenge was non availability of maize.

Omidokun further pledged his association’s readiness to support the government in eradicating famine in the state and the country at large.

Commending both levels of government for their support to the association, some of the beneficiaries, Mr Samson Feyisetan and Mrs Bakare Rofiat, said the palliative was given in a time they needed it most considering the price of a bag of feed, noting that the palliative would relieve them in feeding their chickens.