ABEOKUTA– The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR, today flagged off the 2020 planting season, stressing that it is time the country move away from over reliance of crude oil and start feeding itself.
The Governor who used the occasion to distribute inputs to the first batch of the cassava value chain beneficiaries said the geographical location of the state, by providence has made the state lucky, adding that the favourable climate and fertile soil for agriculture position the state as a food basket for the nation.
According to the governor, “our land mass is over 16,000 square kilometres, 80% of which is arable. That means that we have over 12,800 square kilometres of arable land. We are talking of arable land bigger than the total land mass of some countries in Africa or Europe or the Americas, and or, some countries put together”
“But, the fact also is that favourable climate and arable land do not on their own translate to optimum agricultural production. We have seen countries with less favourable climate and almost unfarmable land become food sufficient and exporters of food. What this means is that the Government and people must come together and chart a course for the joint development and optimization of God-given resources. In simple language, our fate is in our hands”
The governor however said his administration is unreservedly committed to the development of all sectors of our dear State’s economy adding that the target is to produce enough food to attain nutritional self-sufficiency in the short term, and over long term produce enough food for other States in the country and for export.
He added that the Ministry of Agriculture has been directed to continue to provide farming support to farmers and private sector players during this period, to ensure Food Security, Agro-Industrial activities, Linkages and Job Creation adding that this has been well recognized and lauded nationally and internationally.
“As we speak, all nine (9) Agro-Service Centres in our dear State have enough seeds and other agro-inputs required to support 2020 farming activities; and other non-ABP farming support like the Ogun Broiler Project, Rice Intervention in Mokoloki/Ofada, Eggua in Yewa and other locations would be sustained” he said
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Adeola Odedina said Ogun State is running the biggest anchor borrower programme in cassava in Africa, adding that about 27,000 farmers applied for the opportunities in cassava in the State.
Dr. Odedina further stated that each farmers would be given ₦210,000 as take off, adding that there wouldn’t room for inputs diversion as the process has been geotyped and can be tracked.
“In this anchor borrower programme, there is no room for inputs diversion. His Excellency has directed that the farms must be geotyped, all extension agents must located the farm, and inputs distribution must be based on farm location”
“Over 60million has been distributed to the farmers, this is unprecedented in the country and I congratulate the farmers and all anchor borrower beneficiaries” he said
He further call on the citizens to register for the anchor borrower programme through the Ogun State job portal, adding that the target is beyond the cassava as their are opportunities in rice, fish and poultry farming.
