In a joint effort with the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government has launched a free distribution programme, providing 21,000 bags of assorted fertilizers to over 10,500 farmers in the state.
The flag-off ceremony took place today at the OYSADA warehouse, Fertilizer Store Laniya, Ojongbodu area, Oyo town.
During the event, no fewer than 250 farmers from Akinyele Local Government area received two bags of fertilizers each to boost their agricultural activities.
The fertilizers, donated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, is aimed to cushion the impact of the oil subsidy removal on farmers across the country.
In his keynote address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development in the state, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, described the gesture as a testament to the Seyi Makinde-led administration’s commitment to increasing food production and boosting the state’s economy.
“The gesture will improve crop productivity, enhance food security, and increase the income of our rural farmers.
“The state government is committed to boosting agricultural productivity and positioning farmers for sustainable growth and prosperity.”
The Commissioner also highlighted the state government’s efforts to address the challenges of insecurity and rising prices of agricultural production inputs faced by farmers.
He mentioned that the administration has approved the procurement and distribution of various agricultural inputs, including tons of maize seed, soybean seed, knapsack sprayers, and agrochemicals, to build the resilience of farmers against economic shocks.
The commissioner during an interview with newsmen further added: “We have to appreciate His Excellency for his support for farmers in the state, we received this consignment from the federal government to support the farmers in Oyo State, but we had to go to Port Harcourt and Lokoja, Kogi State to evacuate them, the governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde released money promptly for us to evacuate 21,000 bag of fertilizers to Oyo state, to meet up with the farming season.”
“So we really appreciate the governor for the support, we have 21,000 bags here and a farmer in Oyo state will collect minimum of two bags, so what that means is that more than 10,000 farmers are going to benefit from this distribution, we have 250 farmers from Akinyele Local Government, and majority of them are from Oyo state farm settlement.”
“From tomorrow two local government each will be coming to collect their fertilizers for use in their various farm, this is the only distribution point in the state, the size of the fertilizer and the size of the ware house we have here in the state, and coupled with the fact that Oyo town is like a terminal, it is like of equal distance to various part of the state, people coming from Oke Ogun, Ibadan and Ibarapa will come here for easy access and the evacuation.”
“The governor has directed that we should give the fertilizer to them free without paying anything for it, we know that in some state they’re charging stipends but here in Oyo state we are not collecting anything form anybody, it’s free for farmers in Oyo state as directed by the Governor, as at today the bag of this fertilizer is sold at the rate of N40,000 to N50,000,” the commissioner stated.
In his remark, the Oyo State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Kakulu Omonele, represented by Mrs. Bilkis AbduLateef, an agricultural officer, noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria had donated about 100,000 metric tons (2,000,000 bags) of assorted fertilizers to the Federal Government as support to cushion the current economic effect on food production and enhance food security in Nigeria.
He said the distribution of the fertilizers to Oyo State farmers is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to the CBN to handover the assorted brands of fertilizers to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for allocation and distribution to all states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He commended the efforts of Oyo State
Government for evacuating it’s consignment within the specified period just as she enjoined the beneficiaries to utilize the fertilizers for the intended purpose
Earlier In her address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Mrs Chritianah, Abioye also encouraged beneficiaries to put the fertilizers into production rather than converting it to immediate stipend that will not stand test of time.
The beneficiaries, such as the Chairman of Ijaye Farm Settlers Association, Mr. David Oyewale Odetunji, and Mrs. Olanike Koleoso from Akinyele Local Government, Ijaye Farm Settlement, expressed their gratitude to the state and federal governments for addressing the needs of farmers, descri
