Rice farmers in Ogun State, totalling about 30,000, have been arranged into clusters for improved production with provision of inputs at subsidised rate and assurance of continuous training on best practices.
Bolu Owotomo, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security made this known recently during his visit to the Alubarika 200-hectare rice farm cluster at Magboro in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area.
Owotomo revealed that 60,000 farmers had been captured under the Ogun State Farmers Information Management System (OGFIMS) in partnership with IITA, with plans to capture an additional 100,000 farmers before the end of the year.
He restated the state government’s readiness to support farmers in accessing needed resources to succeed, in order to boost food production and ensure food security.
The commissioner expressed satisfaction on the progress made by farmers in the cluster, noting that the farm was part of the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) initiative, and was expected to yield 1400 tonnes of rice upon harvest.
‘’Most of the people in this cluster were not farming before now as they were planting on a plot which have been expanded through the state government’s support”, he said.
Contributing, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Kehinde Jokotoye urged farmers to take advantage of the various government’s interventions to increase their yield and livelihood.
On her part, Project Coordinator, OGSTEP, Mrs. Mosunmola Owo-Odunsi, said the rice cultivation programme was a multi-sectoral project, aimed at improving the living standard of farmers, appreciating the governor for providing necessary resources for its success.
Responding on behalf of other farmers, the cluster Secretary, Mr. Salam Adelowo lauded the partnership drive of government as well as the passion to make rice available in large quantity but solicited for improved social amenities on the farm.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 80 public schools across the three Senatorial Districts of Ogun State have benefited from Agricultural Education Training Programme, (AETP), to ensure that the young ones are also brought into agriculture practices.
The Executive Chairman of the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Femi Majekodunmi disclosed this during a monitoring exercise and supervision of the AETP, at O-ORBDA Nursery and Primary School, Alabata, and Imo Methodist Primary School, Oke-Yeke, in Odeda and Abeokuta South Local Government Areas respectively.
Majekodunmi stated that the programme, which was initiated by the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) in collaboration with the state government, got moribund but was resuscitated two years ago, highlighting areas of involvement to include, mixed cropping, fisheries, plantain and banana cultivation, poultry, egg production, animal husbandry, among others, saying the programme had impacted the learners to know about farming.
“The programme started well, and we are making progress in different schools. For now, the programme has recorded a success, which has made learners to know about farming to some extent and the teachers are selling to make profit and we are very happy about that”, the SUBEB boss said.
He appreciated the Federal and State governments for making the programme a tremendous achievement, urging the school teachers to take it seriously.
In their separate remarks, the State Chairman, Parents Teachers Associ ation (PTA), Revd. Samson Folorunso and the Head Teacher, Baptist Nursery and Primary School 1, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Mrs. Christiana Olufemi expressed gratitude to the organisers for the initiative, saying it had benefited the learners positively, as they were engaging in different forms of agriculture.
Speaking on behalf of other learners, Jimoh Ibrahim of Salawu Abiola Comprehensive High School, Junior, Osiele, Odeda, appreciated the government for the programme, promising to continue learning and do what is expected of them.
