The Osun State Government On Thursday distributed farm inputs to no fewer than 6,000 farmers to boost food production in the state.
Gov. Gboyega Oyetola, while distributing the farm inputs during the flagging-off of 2020 Planting Season in Osogbo, said he was committed to agriculture in the state.
Oyetola said his administration considered it necessary to support all farmers to boost agricultural production as part of efforts to ensure food sufficiency and availability of raw materials for industries in the state.
The governor said his administration was fully committed to developing agriculture value chain in all strata.
He said that the government had created an enabling environment for agric businesses to thrive, thus creating employment for the youth through the establishment of cottage industries in the state.
“In the face of dwindling revenue generation from crude oil, which has been the mainstay of the nation’s economy, this challenge presents a great opportunity for serious and would-be farmers to take advantage of.
“In view of the above, our government considers it necessary to support all farmers in the state to boost agricultural production, which will ensure food sufficiency and availability of raw materials for our industries.
“In the previous years, our supports were in form of subsidised inputs.
“But this year, we are giving agricultural inputs such as maize seeds, cassava cuttings, vegetable seeds, lime, fingerlings and Knapsack sprayers free to farmers.
“This is to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on all the citizenry within and outside the State,” the governor said.
In his remark, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Adedayo Adewole, commended Gov. Oyetola for his commitment to the well-being of farmers in the state.
Adewole said the Ministry was partnering with the private sector and well-meaning individuals to revive the agriculture sector in the state.
In her remarks, Mrs Ajuma Madojemu, the Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria in Osogbo, applauded Gov. Oyetola for turning around the socio-economic fortunes of the state for the betterment of the people.
Madojemu said the bank was aware of the prompt intervention of the government to reposition agriculture and make the sector the state’s economic mainstay.
Dr David Ogunwade, the Chairman of Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, expressed gratitude to the state government for making farmers’ welfare priority.
