As part effort to make life more abundant for people and make Christmas as well as New Year celebration a memorable one, Osun State government has embarked on the distribution of local rice popularly known as “Ofada” to 30,000 residents.
The distribution which commenced on Wednesday is part the Monthly Food Support Scheme of the state government.
According to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, the initiative will not only boost local production of rice, it will also encourage farmers by creating ready-made market for their farm produce.
He said the scheme which relies on the World Bank-assisted/Federal Government social register will also contribute to making Osun the hub of the nation’s agricultural produce.
Speaking at the symbolic flag off of the 9th edition of the Food Support Scheme in Osogbo, the state capital, Governor Oyetola said the move is to further actualise his plans to genuinely diversify the economy by unraveling the potential embedded in the critical sectors such as agriculture, mining and tourism.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, the Governor reiterated his commitment to sustaining the programme, noting that no amount of downturn in the economy would halt the monthly distribution of foods.
He stated that another empowerment plan had reached the final stage to ensure that widows, the aged and other vulnerable citizens who were not captured in the food support scheme are properly taken care of.
Oyetola who said over 270,000 households had benefited from the scheme since its commencement nine months ago, said no effort would be spared to add value to the initiative which has been widely accepted by the people.
“You will recall that nine months ago, our government did promise that on a monthly basis, 30,000 households will be fed and this is the ninth edition making 270,000 households that had benefited from the Scheme. And when we talk of household, it is not an individual that makes up an household, essentially, the husband, wife, children and dependants.
“So, when we look at the numbers of the beneficiaries, one would not but agree that thousand of residents of the state had benefitted so far”, he said.
The Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Mr Olalekan Badmus, said the government’s resolve to promote local content had begun to yield positive results as evidenced in the successful move to source Ofada rice locally.
He expressed happiness for dedicating the December edition to pure local food, saying the move will enhance the production capacity. He thus encouraged the young ones to go into farming, assuring them of government resolve to create enabling environment for citizens particularly farmers to thrive.
“As it is, our farmers will be enjoy direct purchase from the government as this will also go a long way to encourage our farmers to grow rice and other staple foods.
Badmus reiterated governor Oyetola’s commitment to continue to support local farmers to revamp the agricultural sector.
Nnenna.O
