The Oyo State Government has stated that its administration has achieved significant progress in food production through targeted agricultural interventions, lowered food prices and improved farmers’ productivity across the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, made this known in Ibadan while receiving the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, during a courtesy visit.
Olaleye said that over the past three years, the state has recorded massive gains in agricultural output due to Governor Seyi Makinde’s consistent investments in mechanised farming, improved seeds, fertiliser support, and farmer training programmes.
According to Olaleye, the price of key food commodities, such as cassava, has dropped sharply as a direct result of these agricultural initiatives.
“Cassava price was about ₦600,000 per truck three years ago, but today it’s less than ₦150,000 because of massive investments in agriculture by this administration,” he said.
He highlighted four major interventions that have transformed the sector: the distribution of 65,000 bundles of cassava stems to farmers, the provision of hybrid and high-yield seeds, the free supply of fertiliser, and the state’s tractorisation programme.
Under the tractorisation scheme, the government pays 50 per cent of the ploughing cost for farmers. This subsidy has doubled cultivation capacity for smallholders, who can now farm up to 20 acres, compared to 10 acres in previous years.
Olaleye disclosed that more than 7,000 farmers have benefitted from the government’s mechanised farming support this year, with over 21,000 acres of farmland cultivated compared to 6,000 acres last year.
He added that over 12,000 bags of fertiliser were distributed free to farmers, benefiting nearly 6,000 individuals, while approximately 4,800 farmers were trained on modern practices, including seed timing, fertiliser application, and pest management.
“By removing the burden of fertiliser and ploughing costs, the government has made farming easier and cheaper. This has helped farmers expand their operations and reduce production costs,” he said.
The commissioner also revealed that more than 20,000 tonnes of cassava had been exported through the Ibarapa axis alone, signalling the state’s growing presence in the export market.
He noted that the government has made significant progress in animal husbandry, citing the free vaccination of over 120,000 cattle, 89,000 sheep and goats, which has resulted in a reduction in livestock mortality.
“We have also extended support to poultry and piggery farmers through free animal feed distribution,” he added.
Olaleye explained that many of these agricultural interventions were introduced under the Social and Economic Recovery Programme, which was designed to mitigate the effects of fuel subsidy removal on citizens.
“The tractorisation and input distribution initiatives were all designed as a response to the rising cost of transportation and food items that followed subsidy removal,” he said.
The commissioner reaffirmed the state’s commitment to sustaining its agricultural transformation agenda, describing it as central to Oyo’s economic diversification strategy.
Source: Punch
