Ogun to encourage wet and dry farming as Abiodun inaugurates National Agricultural Growth Programme Committee

 

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said the state is working towards producing sufficient food for local consumption and export through wet and dry season farming.

The governor said his administration is committed to developing all sectors of the state’s economy, especially agriculture, for its potential in terms of revenue generation and employment, as well as food security and poverty reduction.

Prince Abiodun was speaking during the inauguration of the 13-member State Working Committee (SWC) of the National Agricultural Growth Programme – AGRO POCKET, which took place at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He said: “Our goal is to produce enough food to achieve self-sufficiency in the short term and, in the long term, to produce enough food for other states and for export.

“As an administration, we are committed to the development of all sectors of our state economy. In particular, we recognize the immense potential of the agricultural sector, especially in employment generation, income generation, food security and poverty reduction.

“As a government, we are aware of our responsibility to provide the necessary aid to our people, especially in these difficult times.

“The federal government, together with the state governments, have respectively developed a framework and reforms to provide mutually reinforcing components, such as agricultural reforms, improved supply of agricultural inputs and quality extension services.”

Ogun State, he said, has identified viable sources of funding through partnerships with the Federal Government and the African Development Bank (AfDB), under the Policy-Based Operation (PBO), to boost agricultural production in both the wet and dry seasons.

“You may recall that in 2023, a pilot project was launched in 15 states of the federation, which was cultivated during the dry season. This led to an astronomical increase in wheat yield. The results revealed that in 2023-2024, approximately 277,000 hectares of wheat were planted in Nigeria, which represents an increase of 139 percent compared to the previous year’s season.

“Undoubtedly, this achievement is the direct impact of the inputs received under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme supported by the African Development Bank,” he said.

Abiodun said the state would be supported in the cassava, maize and rice value chains with a total of 2,400 smallholder farmers on 1,200 hectares of land, where farmers would pay 25 percent of the cost of inputs, while the federal government would pay the remaining 75 percent during the 2024 rainy season.

He charged the committee members to be aware of the sacred mandate entrusted to them to ensure the efficient functioning of the program, as well as to carry out their duties with integrity and candor.

“This committee will also be replicated at the local government area level, including representatives of different stakeholders reflecting the particularities of the local government areas,” the governor added.

He stressed that the administration’s policy on agriculture has attracted investors into the state, saying the establishment of Soilless Farm Laboratory at Awowo, Ewekoro Local Government Area is an example of agri-entrepreneurs setting up their businesses in the state.

The governor, while appreciating President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, for the commendable initiative, stressed that it would help address the food challenge in the country.

Responding on behalf of the members, the Olota of Ota, Oba Abdulkabir Obalanlege, applauded the Federal Government for the initiative, saying it was capable of reducing inflation and increasing food production in the country.

The monarch thanked the governor for leading the process and for what he has done in the agricultural sector, especially in collaborating with foreign partners to reposition the Odeda Farm Settlement, pledging to work towards the success of the program in the state.

The committee is chaired by the governor. The Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, is the Vice Chairman, while the State Coordinator of FMAFS will act as the Secretary.

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