Ogun State Economic Transformation Programme (OGSTEP) has extended its intervention projects to Agbe Gbelu Agro Network Services Limited, Afon in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area with the rehabilitation of two solar dryer buildings.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, while inspecting the project site said, provision of the solar dryers, which had the capacity of drying farm produce within two to three hours, was climate compliant that would prevent post-harvest loss, reduce time wastage and ensure quality standardisation in export trading as well as attracts investment among others.
Owotomo disclosed that Ogun State Government, under Prince Dapo Abiodun's leadership and ISEYA agenda had made significant strides in agriculture, such as acquisition of more tractors productionand repair of serviceable ones to boost , giant strides of the Ogun State Economic Transformation Programme (OGSTEP), which had made a significant impact on our citizens, distribution of inputs, productive and processing assets to farmers, as well as rehabilitation of wet markets and feeder roads to enhance food security under the OG-CARES FADAMA project.
Represented by the Director, Technical Services Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP), who doubles as Acting Project Manager, OGUN-CARES FADAMA, Mr. Oluwafemi Odubiyi, he added that the strides have enabled the State to record the least food price hike in the country, assuring that the present administration would leave no stone unturned at engaging public private partnership and other participatory approaches.
"I am proud to highlight that, according to recent reports from the Federal Bureau of Statistics, Ogun State has had the least food price hike in the country. This achievement is a testament to our government's commitment to food security and agricultural development. We are determined to maintain this momentum through Public-Private Partnerships and participatory approaches like this", he said.
The Commissioner emphasised that the present administration was committed to complementing the efforts of various stakeholders to ensure that Ogun State remains at the forefront of agricultural development in Nigeria, applauding Agbe Gbelu Agro Network Services Limited for their unity, charging them to continue in one spirit to maintain the facilities when completed to further elevate their farming businesses.
Speaking, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Kehinde Jokotoye, represented by the Deputy Director, Department of Technical Services, OGADEP, Mr. Afolabi Akinwande, hinted that, the State Government was poised at assisting the farmers to take their farm produce to exportation level, encouraging them to leverage on the facility by venturing more into cash crops like cashew and cocoa as a gesture to reciprocate government's intervention projects.
The Agricultural Supervisor, Imeko-Afon Local Government, Hon. Rotimi Fadairo, said various interventions programmes extended to farmers in the State was not farfetched as President Bola Tinubu is a lover of agriculture, thus the State Government had equally toed the line of advancing agricultural projects, revealing that same had been cascaded to Imeko-Afon Local Government Area as many laudable projects were in the pipeline for farmers by the present Local Government Administration.
Earlier, one of the beneficiaries, Chief Babade Simon testified that the State government's intervention projects at Oloro village, within the Local Government Area through OGUN-CARES FADAMA, where a culvert was constructed for the Community alongside other inputs and assets like fertilizers, pumping machines as well as processing kits had largely eased haulage of farm produce to the markets. He further noted that the initiatives had boost businesses in the area, as the success stories of over 800 members of Agbe Gbelu Agro Network Services Limited, that were recorded would not be an exception.
Another beneficiary, Chief (Mrs.) Esther Alawode on behalf of the farmers, expressed delight for the State Government's intervention, promising that they would adhere to every instruction given, maintain the facilities and continue to collaborate with the government to take food production to higher level.
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