The Oyo State Government with the support of the Federal Government has commenced free distribution of 21,000 bags of assorted fertilizers to over 10,500 farmers in the state.

The flag off ceremony held at OYSADA Ware House, Fertilizer Store Laniya, Ojongbodu area Oyo ton.

No fewer than 250 farmers from Government area of the state received two bags of fertilizers each to boost their agricultural fertilizers donated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is aimed at cushioning the effects of the oil subsidy removal on farmers across the country.

In his keynote address to officially declare open the programme, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye described the event as a testament of the Seyi Makinde led administration’s resolve to increase food production and boost the economy of the state.

The Commissioner stated thet the gesture will improve crop productivity, enhance food security and increase the income of our rural farmers adding that the state government is committed to boosting agricultural productivity and positioning farmers for sustainable growth and prosperity.

He said he administration is aware of the challenges of insecurity and soaring prices of agricultural production inputsfaced by farmers in state and as a result given approval to the requests by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through Sustainable Action for Economic Reform (SAFER) to procure and distribute various Agricultural input at the beginning of this season.

According to him the inputs includes Tonnes of Maize seed, Soybean seed, Knapsack sprayers, agro-chemicals to build the resilience of farmers against economic shocks

In an interview, the Commissioner said;“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, 2 local governments each will be coming to collect their fertilizers for use in their various farms, this is the only distribution point in the state, the size of the fertilizer and the size of the ware

“From tomorrow, 2 local governments each will be coming to collect their fertilizers for use in their various farms, this is the only distribution point in the state, the size of the fertilizer and the size of the warehouse 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 Oyo State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Kakulu Omonele represented by Mrs Bilkis AbduLateef, an Agric Officer in the ministry noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria donated about 100,000 metric tonnes (2,000,000 bags) of assorted fertilizer to the Federal Government of Nigeria as its support to cushion the current economic effect on food production to enhance food security in Nigeria.

According to her, President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had directed the CBN to handover the assorted brands of fertilizers to Federal Ministry of Agriculture And Food Security for onward allocation and distribution to all states and FCT for further distribution to farmers in their various states.

She 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 welcome address the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Mrs Christiana 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 Chairman of Ijaye Farm Settlers Association, Mr David Oyewale Odetunji, and Mrs Olanike Koleoso, a farmer from Akinyele Local Government, Ijaye Farm Settlement, both commended the State and federal government for meeting the needs of the farmers describing the gesture as first of it’s kind in the country.

The promise to make judicious use of the fertilisers just as they expressed optimism of a bountiful harvest in the next few months.

In attendance at the occasion are the lawmaker representing Atiba State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon Oyekola Gbenga, State Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria AFAN, Mr Adewole Adewunmi, Special Adviser to Governor’Seyi Makinde on Labour Matters, Comrade Titilade Sodo among others.

Source: Punch