The Osun State Government says it is targeting growth in Cassava value-chain through its monthly food support scheme.
The State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, said this while flagging off the 17th edition of the Monthly Food Support initiative.
Governor Oyetola said the focus of the Scheme on production of local staples such as Garri (Cassava flower), would make the cassava value-chain in the state experience incremental growth.
He noted that apart from boosting the state’s economy, the food support scheme had also helped in revolutionising the Agriculture sector.
Governor Oyetola said; ”the growth projected for the cassava value-chain was carefully and deliberately planned because of its multiplier effect on the government and people of the state.”
“Our government’s agriculture programme has encouraged a good percentage of our youths to go back to the farm, and if these young men and women are back to the farm planting cassava and other produce, therefore, our avowed commitment to stimulate the economy and revamp the sector would yield positive results.
“Our choice of giving prominence to local production and staple foods such as garri among other products was to encourage young entrepreneurs and to scale up activities of local production of cassava and other local food crops.
“These concerted efforts apart from boosting the economy of the State, will also bring succour to the people who are hitherto faced with harsh economic realities.”
The Governor was represented at the event by the Secretary to Osun State Government, Wole Oyebamiji.
Speaking in the same vein, the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Olalekan Badmus said the food support scheme had helped in building more entrepreneurs in the state’s Agriculture value chain.
He said: “We are distributing Garri ( Cassava flower) this month and if you look at it, from those that are taking it directly from the farm to those engaging in processing and the final stage, it is obvious that the process has a long economic value-chain.
“The entrepreneurs for instance go to the villages, get the product from those producing it and get it packaged and branded.
“We have been able to build a lot of entrepreneurs since the commencement of the scheme. This has an economic effect that has impacted greatly on the lives of the people.”
Badmus, who noted that people of all age brackets were involved in the production process of the scheme, said the initiative had the potential to curb rural-urban migration in the state.
He also said over 500,000 households had benefited from the scheme since its inauguration in 2021, to cushion the effect of harsh economic realities.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
