The Oyo State Government has distributed agricultural inputs comprising rice seeds, agrochemicals and liquid fertilizers worth over N4.4 million to rice farmers in seven local government areas of the state.
Speaking at the occasion held at the OYSADEP Farmers’ Multipurpose Hall, Oyo, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Mr. Bimbo Kolade, said that a total of 175 rice farmers in seven Fadama III participating local governments had been provided with rice seeds, agro- chemicals and fertilizers to boost rice production in the state.
The commissioner listed the benefitting local governments as Oyo West, Atisbo, Saki West, Surulere, Ido, Akinyele and Ogo Oluwa.
Speaking on rice transformation, the commissioner said that his ministry, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, had developed the state rice development strategy which he said would serve as the blueprint to guide its rice development efforts.
He said that the distribution of the agricultural inputs was a physical demonstration of the Ajimobi administration’s commitment to improving the present level of rice production to transform the state to a major player in rice production in the country in the nearest foreseeable future.
Kolade reiterated the commitment of the present administration to repositioning agriculture and developing rural area, pointing out that the state government was participating fully in the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda in about seven out of the 14 selected commodities.
In his address, the state Project Coordinator, Fadama III Project, Mr. Nathaniel Olayinka, said the project was designed to support strategic objective of enhancing growth in the non-oil sectors to achieve increased food security, poverty alleviation and employment creation to improve the living condition of people living in rural areas.
He urged the farmers to make judicious use of the inputs to maximize their income, enhance their living standard, reduce the nation’s import and achieve self-sufficiency in rice production.
In her remark, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Kunle Adeduntan, lauded the agricultural transformation agenda of the Ajimobi administration, stressing that the efforts had been very successful.
Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Mr. Bolaji Michael, commended the state government for the support it had been giving to farmers, adding that farmers had never had it so good in the state.
“No government in past had assisted farmers like the present administration. We will not disappoint the government and we will ensure increase in the production of rice; we will use the inputs for the purpose they are meant,’’ he pledged.