Ondo State Govt. trains women on modern agricultural techniques

The Ondo state government has assured of its support to women’s participation in agriculture with an initiative focused on training them in modern farming techniques.

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Agric and Agribusiness, Mr Wemimo Akinsola, said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Akure.

Akinsola stated that young female farmers drawn from the 18 local government areas of Ondo State recently completed a three months intensive training programme on Modern Vegetable Farming.

He said that the initiative was part of the state’s plan to drive food security and self-sufficiency by transforming the state into an agribusiness hub within the next two years.

“This programme was designed to equip young women with modern farming techniques that will enhance productivity and sustainability in agriculture.

“The selected beneficiaries were trained on innovative vegetable farming methods, positioning them to contribute significantly to food production in Ondo State.

“The whole idea is to make young people take charge of this crucial sector.

“If we are serious about achieving food security, we must invest in empowering the next generation of farmers.

“With this programme, we are setting the foundation for Ondo State to become a leading player in agribusiness,” he said.

Akinsola said that local government chairmen had been directed to compile names of interested individuals from their respective areas for the next edition of the training.

“For the next batch, we have approved that local government chairmen should submit names of interested candidates within their jurisdictions.

“The selection process will be fair and transparent, ensuring that only those who are genuinely interested in agriculture will be considered.

“This time, we are expanding participation to 100 youths, 70 females and 30 males, to further strengthen the impact of the program,” he stressed.

The Coordinator of the programme, Mr Femi Ilesanmi, said that the training was aimed at empowering women and motivating them to engage actively in food production.

“The whole idea is to empower women and encourage them to contribute significantly to food production.

“We have also partnered with international organisations to provide the necessary education and technical knowledge.

“Now, they are professional agronomists, ready to apply what they have learned to improve food production and sustainability in Ondo State,” he added.

One of the beneficiaries, Miss Blessing Ebhodaghe, described the initiative as a life-changing opportunity.

“This training has been an eye-opener for me. I have learnt modern farming techniques, better ways to increase productivity, and business strategies that will help me sustain an agricultural venture.

“I never imagined I would gain this much knowledge in such a short time, and I am grateful to the Ondo State Government for this opportunity,” she said.

NAN / Foluke Ibitomi