Press Release
The Oyo state government has trained 165 youths and women farmers on cultivation, pest control, and processing of improved varieties of three staple crops.
According to the government, the training, which includes planting and processing of Orange-Flesh Sweet Potato(OFSP), Vitamin A Cassava, and Vitamin A maize will enhance quality nutrition and value addition.
Declaring the One-day Training open, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye advised farmers to adopt good agricultural practices in the cultivation of improved varieties of crops.
The training which was organized in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition GAIN, was held at Hothe use of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat Ibadan.
Olaleye said youths and women in the state are being taught on to plant and process Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato, Vitamin A Cassava, and Vitamin A Maize to enhance and enrich the nutritional content of food production and food security in the Oyo state.
According to him, the training will guarantee more yield per hectare and value addition.
The Commissioner added that this ‘Training the Trainer’ program is another focused effort of the government to alleviate the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidies.
He advised farmers in the state to embrace improved varieties of cassava stems as they have enormous benefits and give more yield per hectare.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the efforts of the state government on Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) initiatives of the state government on the distribution of 400kg of maize grains to each poultry far farmer in the state where 2665 farmers benefitted; 1000 fish farmers across the state also received fish feeds while 100kg of palm kernel cake (PKC) and 2 bottles of disinfectants would be given to 1000 pig farmers each.
He added that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will henceforth carry along the Directors of Agriculture in all the 33 local government areas of the state in every activity organized by he then tried to reach out to the grassroots
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Christiana Abioye said the seminar is another milestone in the history of the Ministry in a time like this when the whole country is passing through a hard time of food scarcity and hunger.
Abioye who commended the government for the support to farmers, observed that cassava production in the country required good agronomic practices for high yield.
In her remarks, the Head of Policy, Advocacy and Communication, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Barrister Joyce Akpata commended the Oyo State Government for creating a conducive environment that allows them to operate among other participating states.
She stressed that GAIN has been operating in 4 local government areas in the state but due to prioritization in agriculture by the present government under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde, the opportunity has been extended to the 33 local governments in the state.
She affirmed that by extension, the move would increase the nutrition intake of the citizens through massive production.
Speaking on behalf of the Farmers, the Chairman, of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Oyo State chapter, Adewumi Abass thanked the government for its numerous ongoing efforts to ensure food security in the state adding that with these efforts, Oyo State would indeed be a food basket of Nigeria.
Present at the training were the Chairman, of the House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Ojedokun Peter; the Chairman, of the House Committee on Women Affairs and member, of the Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Mrs Olufunke Comforter, Professor Mrs Folake Samuel, among others.
E-signed:
Prince Dotun Oyelade,
Commissioner for Information,
Oyo State.
April 12, 2024