Oyo State Empowers Farmers with Improved Seeds, Inputs

The Oyo State Government has embarked on a quest to ensure sufficiency in food production with the inauguration of the Annual State Farmers’ Support Programme (ASFSP).

Inaugurated on Wednesday, the programme benefitted about 20,000 smallholder farmers who received improved seedlings, farm implements and fertilisers.

It was initiated in conjunction with the State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) programme, a World Bank-support intervention, Premium Times reports.

Speaking at the event, Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde noted that the effort of smallholder farmers in boosting food production in the state cannot be ignored.

As part of the activities to commemorate the second anniversary of Makinde’s administration, the farmers received improved seedlings and other farm inputs to help increase food production.

The event took place at the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, in the Oke-Ogun area of the state.

While pledging his support for farmers, Makinde addressed the issue of security in the state, restating his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and properties.

He added that his government had put in place several measures, including the creation of a base for Operation Burst in the area and deployment of more Amotekun corps in the zone.

On his part, Commissioner of Agriculture, Jacob Ojekunle, during the event, stated that the programme would facilitate smallholder farmers in wealth creation.

He urged the beneficiaries of the programme to maximize the opportunity afforded them by the government.

Ojekunle also reviewed the commitment of the Makinde administration to several interventions in the agricultural sector for hunger eradication and expansion of the state’s economy.

Also, the Director-General, Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, Debo Akande, lauded the efforts of the Makinde-led administration in ensuring development in the agricultural sphere.

He recognised the impact of the Start Them Early Project (STEP) in encouraging students in agribusiness and rolling out the Youths Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness Programme.