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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
A group, Atunto Osun, under the leadership of Omooba Dotun Babayemi, a former governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has entered into a partnership with the Nigeria Soyabeans Association, and Agbajowo Farmer Association for the cultivation and production of cash crops across the 31 Local Government Areas of Osun State.
The multi-million naira project under Atunto Osun Agricultural Initiatives coordinated by the Chairman of Atunto Osun Support Group, Engr Olutade Mayowa Olusesan, is aimed at stemming the inflationary trend in the state through agricultural interventions.
It is recalled that on Thursday, December 7, 2023, Atunto Osun was launched with over 20,000 in attendance while on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, the Atunto Osun Multipurpose Cooperative Society was flagged off with N10m invested to empower the people of Iwo Local Government.
At the weekend, the agricultural initiative being embarked upon by the group to enhance the availability of food in the state and the nation took off.
The scheme which is projected to gulp over N50m, was kick-started at the weekend in Osogbo which falls under Osun Central, and attended by stakeholders.
Speaking at the flag-off, the Coordinator of the program, Engr Olutade Olusesan, asserted that to ensure the success of the initiative, tripartite agreements were reached with the state chapters of the Nigerian Soybean Association led by Chief Francis Adeoye and Agbajowo Farmers Association under the leadership of Mr. Asimiyu Tadese Ademola.
According to him, the philosophy of the program is to aid food production and reduce the inflationary biting cost of food items with millions of people being targeted beneficiaries in and outside the state.
“This initiative is a cutting edge aimed at reaching out to the teeming populace out there. Hunger knows no religion, political party, or tribe. So the purpose is to contribute our quota through practical steps and not just mere talks. It’s a huge investment but it’s worth doing for the people, especially at this critical phase of our economy,” Olusesan said.
“For a seamless administration of the farms involved across the state,
Soybeans and Agbajowo Farmers Associations would engage in on-field supervision and monitoring of the farms in the three senatorial districts” he further asserted
Speaking on behalf of the other association, the state Chairman of the Nigerian Soybean Association, Chief Francis Adeoye, commended Babayemi for their selflessness in his pursuits, urging others to emulate him.
Adeoye urged that agriculture must be prioritized for the nation’s economy to stabilize; stressing, “that’s the main key that can see to the desired growth and development of our dear state and country. The second and equally important is good governance. We need these and every other thing will fall in line.”
