The Oyo state government has trained 165 youths and women farmers on cultivation, pest control and processing of improved varieties of three staple crops.

According to the government, the training, which includes planting and processing of Orange -Fleshed Sweet Potato(OFSP), Vitamin A Cassava and Vitamin A maize will enhance quality nutrition and value addition.

Declaring the One-day Training open, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye advised farmers to adopt good agricultural practices in the cultivation of improved varieties of crops.

The training which was organised in collaboration with Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition GAIN, held at House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat Ibadan.

Olaleye said youths and women in the state are being taught on how to plant and process Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato, Vitamin A Cassava and Vitamin A Maize to enhance and enriched nutritional content of food production and food security in Oyo state.

According to him, the training will guarantee more yield per hectare and for value addition.

The Commissioner added that this ‘Training the Trainer’ programme is another focused effort of the government to alleviate the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.

He advised farmers in the state to embrace improved varieties of cassava stems as they have enormous benefits and give more yield per hectare.

The Commissioner reaffirmed the efforts of the state government on Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) initiatives of the state government on distribution of 400kg of maize grains to each poultry farmers in the state where 2665 farmers benefitted; 1000 fish farmers across the state also received fish feeds while 100kg of palm kernel cake (PKC) and 2 bottles of disinfectants would be given to 1000 pig farmers each.

He added that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will henceforth carry along the Directors of Agriculture in all the 33 local government areas of the state in every activity organised by the Ministry in order to reach out to the grassroot.

In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Christiana Abioye said the seminar is another milestone in the history of the Ministry in a time like this when the whole country is passing through a hard time of food scarcity and hunger.

Abioye who commended the government for the support to farmers, observed that cassava production in the country required good agronomic practices for high yield.

In her remarks, the Head of Policy, Advocacy and Communication, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Barrister Joyce Akpata commended the Oyo State Government for creating a conducive environment which allows them to operate among other participating states.

She stressed that GAIN has been operating in 4 local government areas in the state but due to prioritization in agriculture by the present government under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde, the opportunity has been extended to the 33 local governments in the state.

She affirmed that by extension, the move would increase the nutrition intake of the citizen through massive production.

Speaking on behalf of the Farmers, the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Oyo State chapter, Adewumi Abass thanked government for it’s numerous ongoing efforts to ensure food security in the state adding that with these efforts, Oyo state would indeed be a food basket of Nigeria.

Present at the training were the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Ojedokun Peter; Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and member, Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Mrs Olufunke Comforter, Professor Mrs Folake Samuel, among others.

…Gets Govt Support

Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide (YCYW), Ogun state Council Farmers have began Cassava plantation on 180 plots of farmland at Olodo, in Odeda local government area of the State.

The plantation is supported by the with support from Ogun State Economy Transportation Project, OGSTEP/Ogun state government.

Speaking on the move, the Chairman of YCYW in Ogun State, Omoluabi Sunday Adebowale noted that the step by the group was in line with their commitment to sustainable agriculture and the promotion of cassava farming and other agricultural value chains.

He said the initiative is targeted at addressing food scarcity and unemployment in their communities as well as contribute to the agricultural sector’s growth of the State.

Adebowale disclosed that the YCYW’S Farmers, are certified and accredited group registered with the Ogun Ministry of Agriculture three years ago under the OGSTEP program, supported by the World Bank.

The official flag off had in attendance state executives and stakeholders of the group, including Mr. Jephthah Ayena from the OKD/VDFC service provider.

Adebowale appreciated Governor Dapo Abiodun,Aare Bar Oladotun Hassan,Esq,( National President Yoruba Council Worldwide),Dr (Mrs)Adelaja Angel ,SSA on Agric to Abiodun ,and other well meaning Ogun state leaders for the opportunity provided to the group over the years and other farmers across Ogun State through the OGSTEP Agricultural program, marking a significant milestone in the state’s history.

Also speaking at the occasion,the organization’s projects Director, Mr Femi Onandeko, and Director Projects Finance & Admin, Mr Olalekan Raheem,in their separate remarks, used the opportunity to admonished the farmers not to relent on their oars “until we all achieved success and contributes our quoters to Agriculture as Omoluabi Pataki Yoruba”.

The duo called on all Ogun State farmers and entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity by joining them in their efforts to combat food scarcity in the state and Nigeria as a whole.

“Together, we can create a thriving agricultural sector for a prosperous nation”, Onandeko added.

Great Farmers resent at this epoch history making farm program are (Projects director),Mr Jephthah Ayena (OGSTEP/OKD VDFC official) ,Mr Olalekan Raheem (YCYW Project Finance/admin), Mr Seyi Akinleye,Mr Ayo Komolafe,Mr Abiodun Adeeleke,among others.

In line with the Ondo State Government’s  vision to place food security at the forefront of  State’s development agenda, the Governor lucky Aiyedatiwa on Monday flagged off the distribution of maize palliatives and commodities to farmers in the State.

This was disclosed in a statement released by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary Ebenezer Adeniyan on Monday.

According to Adeniyan, the 40 trailers of grains, supplied by the Federal Government, will be distributed to poultry, piggery and fishery farmers across the 18 local government areas of the State.

Speaking at the well attended event in Akure, Governor Aiyedatiwa stressed the importance of implementing measures to address the escalating food prices in the country.

The Governor highlighted the establishment of the committee on Agriculture and Food Security tasked with taking immediate action in response to this challenge.

The Governor said: “Today’s programme is the first among the activities and initiatives lined up to make our State zero tolerant to food insecurity accompanied by massive modern agricultural interventions needed to catapult us to an enviable position in the comity of States.

“The effects of painful but necessary subsidy removal on petrol had compounded the food security situation in Ondo State and indeed Nigeria. Rising inflation on food items and others have made life somewhat unbearable to the people.

“As a government, we must check this ugly trend and make sure that food is not just available, but affordable to the generality of the people”.

The Governor highlighted infrastructure projects aimed at improving market access via rural roads, as well as empowering smallholder farmers, particularly women and youths, through training, capacity building, and access to credit.

Governor Aiyedatiwa praised the significant contribution of agriculture to the state’s economy, noting Ondo State’s role in supplying 75 percent of tomatoes to markets in Lagos State.

He announced the distribution of 40 trailers of maize to poultry, fish, and piggery farmers, with plans for further distribution of various food commodities in the future.

The Governor also appreciated the support of the Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in approving the distribution of grains and other commodities across the country.

Earlier in his welcome address, Mr. Rotimi Wemimo Akinsola, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture and Food Security, commended the governor for establishing the committee as a testament to the governor’s commitment to the welfare of the people.

He stated that the committee is dedicated to realizing the governor’s agricultural initiatives and encouraged farmers who have received agricultural commodities to utilize them effectively, thereby contributing to lower prices.

He envisioned the state becoming a leading agricultural hub due to its abundant natural resources, pledging to visit farmers in their communities to understand their challenges and relay them to the governor for prompt solutions.

Highlights of the event included presentation of award to the governor by the Ondo State Agricultural Commodities Association, OSACA.