…as over 200 farmers benefit
The Federal Government on Tuesday applauded the administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun for revamping the agriculture sector in the State.
This is just as the FG acknowledged the support of the State government towards farmers in Osun, describing it as remarkable.
The Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, gave the commendation while delivering and handing over two tons of hybrid cashew seeds donated to the State government, in Iwo.
Nanono who was represented by the Director of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Engr. Sunday Atoyebi, said the donation of the farm inputs was informed by the assessment and evaluation of the performance of farmers, particularly the cashew growers in the State.
He applauded the State government for keying into the policies of the Federal Government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari which are aimed at revamping, reviving and resuscitating the agricultural sector in the country.
Nanono, who described agriculture as the bedrock of socioeconomic development of the nation, said it was worthy of note that Osun Government had demonstrated a high sense of commitment to rejuvenating the sector and making it the basis of socioeconomic development.
While presenting the cashew seeds to the State Government, the Agric Minister said the gesture would go a long way to turn around cashew production in the State and by extension give more credence to the status of Nigeria in the comity of cashew producers in the world.
He said “There is no doubt that Osun is one of the few states in Nigeria where cashew is grown impressively well just as the cashew growers in the state are competing favourably with their counterparts in the world. Hence, the reason the State was considered as one of the benefitting states by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
“Also, we arrived at this support in line with the statistics gathered that placed the cashew farmers in Osun high and to us, this move would further help to turn around the cashew production and improve the ranking of Nigeria as the 6th largest producer of cashew in the world.
“As you can see, we are not just giving the farmers cashew seeds, but rather, hybrid seeds as this will improve their yield for maximum profit. So, I’ll advise the beneficiaries to apply the seeds as prescribed and follow the normal agronomics practices and guidelines, with this, the success is theirs”, he added.
Commending the Governor, the Minister said “I give kudos to our Governor, Mr Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola for all the laudable things that he has been doing, especially in the agric sector, as reflected in the various supports that the state had given to farmers to boost their productions and make the State the food basket of the region.
In his response, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Adedayo Adewole, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for being supportive of the State in its efforts to raise the bar of agriculture in the State.
“With this support to cashew farmers from the federal government, no fewer than 200 farmers would benefit from the gesture.
Adewole also expressed gratitude to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for the hands of fellowship extended to all farmers in the State. The gesture, he noted had helped to reposition agriculture to certain level of improvement in the last 18 months of the administration.
The Commissioner who also commended the farmers in the State, particularly the cashew growers, said it was a thing of joy for the state to receive hybrid cashew seeds worth two tons from the federal government as support.
He urged farmers in the State to continue to put in their best and support government in its efforts to turn the State to the food basket of the Southwest region.
Earlier, the Chairman, Cashew Growers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Safiriyu Olasupo Aremu and Chairman, Catfish and Allied Fish Farmers Association of Nigeria, Osun chapter, Mr. Afolabi Ademola Titus, expressed profound gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for their timely and prompt support.
They promised to use all the inputs received judiciously and productively.
..fish farmers receive 500 bags of lime
In a separate event, Adewole visited and delivered 500 bags of lime to members of the State Chapter of Catfish and Allied Fish Farmers Association of Nigeria.
He urged farmers in the State to remain united and continue to form cooperatives among themselves, saying the move would help them earn more support from the State government.
“As you all know, agriculture is one of the biggest agenda of our Governor and the government has been doing all within its limited resources to reposition the sector for the betterment of the citizens.
“We have been mandated to do everything possible to revamp the agriculture sector by making it more productive, benefitting and rewarding. That is why we have been up and doing to ensure the actualisation of the mandate.
“As you can see, we have given 500 bags of limes to fish farmers while others have equally received various supports on different aspects of agriculture to boost their productions”, he said.