OG-CARES: Ogun Govt Empowers Over 18,500 Farmers, Hands Over Irrigation ,Other Facilities To Boost Food Production

Ogun State Government says over 18,500 farmers across the 20 Local Government Areas of the State have so far benefitted from OG-CARES FADAMA project.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo revealed this while  handing over irrigation facilities to Farmers in Ado, Ado Odo Ota Local Government Area as well as a renovated toilet facilities to others at Ihunbo, Ipokia Local Government Area, under its OG-CARES FADAMA project

The facilities were handed over to the beneficiaries, so as to actualize the vision of the Prince Dapo Abiodun's led administration to ensure food security

Owotomo added that irrigation facilities procured for the over 300 farmers included, 3 generating sets, one 18-litre irrigable sprayer, a submersible pump, as well as land preparation, covering five hectares of irrigable farm land.

"This input translates to provision of climate smart agricultural inputs and facilities. This will enable our farmers to farm all year round without fear of drought, thereby boosting food supply and this will encourage youths and the vulnerable to practice agriculture as it reduces labour stress", he disclosed. 

At Ihunbo, Hon. Owotomo said upgrading and renovation of the toilets facility were aimed at good nutrition and improved hygiene in agricultural value-chain, as well as, improved sanitation and hygienic environment of market facilities for safe food deliveries, thereby preventing risk of contaminated food supplies. 

The infrastructures involved, upgrading of 2-room toilet to 4-room, rehabilitation of deep well, rehabilitation of soak away and plumbing works, provision of over-head tank with immersible pumping machine and re-enforcement of scaffolding.

The Acting Project Manager, OG-CARES FADAMA, Mr Oluwafemi Odubiyi, commended the Commissioner for his passion in promoting agriculture and food security, in the State, especially at the grassroots and implored the beneficiaries to  cultivate the habit of good maintenance in preserving the  infrastructures. 

He added that drought would no longer be their problems as they now have the facilities to plant all year round thereby making food available at all times, while food sellers at Ipokia now have hygienic environment, which is a pre requisite for healthy living and increased productivity, thus complementing the project development objectives.

The Chairman, Afosogbe Vegetable Farmers Association, Wadatopa Akasun Ado Odo, Chief Dansu Ola Yu, alongside other farmers, lauded the State Government for the strides, promising to judiciously utilize and maintain the facilities.

In a similar vein, the Onihunbo of Ihunbo, Oba Joseph Adeshiyan, said Ihunbo traders were lucky to have received such assistance from the State Government, saying many cities, craving for such were yet to get it, making a personate appeal for government to upgrade the market to a modern one and extend more inputs to farmers.