Food Security: Ogun empowers 1,165 rice farmers with fertilizers, inputs

*It’s our resolve to achieve the Ogun State’s agricultural agenda of food security ─Gov. Dapo Abiodun

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

In continuation of the state’s support to provide agricultural incentives to farmers and all other value chain actors, the Ogun State Government has distributed fertilizers and other inputs to about 1,165 rice farmers under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).

The other inputs include knapsack sprayer, water pumps, chemicals, and seedlings among others.

Governor (Prince) Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State disclosed this at the flag-off of the 2020 wet season Thursday, July 16, at the Ogun State Agro Service Corporation, Imowo, Ijebu Ode, says agency report.

Rice Farmers in Nigeria   Photo: Climate Reporters

Abiodun, represented by Dr. Adeola Odedina, the State Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, gave the farmers an assurance that his administration would continue to provide support and agricultural incentives to all other value chain actors in the state.

The governor urged other farmers to key into the various agricultural programmes of his administration, adding, “Ogun State-facilitated ABP was exemplary and transparent.’’

“This programme has become the hallmark of our deliberate focus on agricultural opportunities, which is aimed at supporting farmers and other agricultural value chain actors, as part of our resolve to achieve the state’s agricultural agenda of food security,” Abiodun said.

He stated that documentation of prospective beneficiaries of agricultural opportunities was carried out at the inception of his administration in 2019.

The Ogun State Chief Executive added that the distribution of inputs, credit and market linkage to 3,500 cassava ABP farmers were recently flagged-off, noting that rice had been given preference as cassava.

Efforts are ongoing to replicate same for maize and cotton value chains, among others in the programme, according to the governor.

He also advised the participants to take full advantage of supplementary assistance provided by government and also abide by the terms of engagement of the linkage programme.

Dr. Dotun Sorunke, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agricuulture, Ogun State, said the present administration in the state had recognised agriculture as one of the areas the state government could depend on to revive its economy.

Sorunke urged the beneficiaries of the programme to be committed to farming in order to realise government’s drive for food security and job creation.

Mrs. Oluyemisi Olukoya, Representative of the CBN, called on the rice farmers to live up to expectation by using the inputs judiciously to enable them to refund the loan granted by the apex bank.

Mr. Victor Korede, Zonal President, Rice Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), commended the Federal and State Governments for empowering rice farmers.

The move would enable the country to be self- sufficient in food production, he stated.

Oluwadamilola Ogunbanjo, on behalf of other beneficiaries, applauded the government for facilitating the grant, while expressing hope that the inputs would further assist them in their quest for fully-mechanised rice farming.