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…as he donates farm equipment, inputs to 3,082 farmers in Ogun
Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Determined to boost food efficiency, ensure food security and tackle hunger President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration has earmarked N350 billion in the 2025 budget, for the reticulation and desilting of various dams across the country to carry out all year-round farming.
The senator representing Ogun West senatorial district at the National Assembly, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, otherwise known as Yayi, disclosed this in his address at the empowerment and donation of farm equipment and inputs to 3,082 he facilitated for farmers selected across Ogun State.
The programme which was held at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of the state, equally saw the farmers getting a sum of N100,000 each as financial support.
He noted that the N350 billion budgetary allocation was to enable all River Basins Development Authorities in Nigeria to provide water for massive irrigation of farm lands, saying that the laudable initiative is in pursuant of the three seasons annual farming calendar.
Speaking further, Senator Adeola, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, said the incumbent administration in the country had launched the National Agriculture Development Fund of N100billion, while a food security initiative, “Earn From the Soil” project, was targeted at transforming subsistence farming to robust export driven economic opportunities.
The presidential initiative, Adeola added, has so far benefited from the distribution of 60,342 metric tons of improved seeds, 887.255 metric tons of seedlings and 62,328 metric tons of inorganic fertilizers with the cultivation of 118,657 hectares of wheat in 15 States.
“Equally, massive mechanization of farming is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda on Agriculture. The Federal Government is in the process of acquiring 2,000 tractors ordered from the United States of America for distribution to farmers across Nigeria. The Tinubu Administration is also working towards a holistic development of the livestock sector of agriculture and has taken the initiative of establishing a full fledged Ministry of Livestock in Nigeria to address the challenges of livestock production and boost the production of various species of livestock nationwide. A total sum of N12 billion is budgeted for the ministry and ranches will be established in 7 states including Lagos and Ogun State”, the senator stated.
He, however, said that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the president, particularly in the area of agriculture, has started to yield many positive results in less than two years of the present administration.
“The reforms associated with the oil subsidy regime and the foreign exchange market are yielding expected results and the economy is on a course to sustained growth. Inflation, particularly food inflation, came down in February according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. From inflation rate of 31.70% in February 2024 to 23.18% in February 2025 is over 8% drop in inflation rate. Different market surveys also indicate a significant drop in prices of some basic food items in most markets”, he added.
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On the empowerment programme, Adeola explained that he facilitated the donation of farm equipment and inputs to the farmers in Ogun State in order to complement the efforts of President Tinubu-led administration and Governor Dapo Abiodun’s efforts in tackling food insufficiency as well hunger in Nigeria and Ogun.
While noting that farmers are critical to human existence and well being as well critical to all the development initiatives desired for Nigerians, the senator stressed that the programme was also to help farmers overcome challenges of low productivity, lack of training in modern agricultural practices, costly farm implements and seedling as well as limited access to finances.
“This programme is facilitated in collaboration with the Federal College of Agriculture, Isiagu, Ebonyi State and Federal Cooperative College, Eleyele. Ibadan. A total number of 5,910 practicing farmers organized into 235 clusters and present here today have received training in various aspects of modern farming methods relative to their specialization. Of this number, 3,082 are benefiting directly from empowerment while others will benefit from shared equipment such as tractors.
“Among the empowerment items for the trained farmers organized in clusters are 20 Tractors, 184 tricycles, 536 water pumps, 1,800 Sprayers, 10,560 bags of NPK fertilizer, 2,880 home kit fertilizer seeds and 5,577 growth enhancers. Others are 66 13 horse power tillers, 2,000 gallons of insecticide, 403 porter organic liquid fertilizers as well as other inputs like cassava stems, various improved seedlings, 30,000 pineapple suckers among other seeds and seedlings.
“This programme has been timed to coincide with the beginning of the farming seasons and the expectation going forward is to enable and empower our farmers to operate at least three farming seasons in a year as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda for Food Security”, he submitted.
Senator Adeola, however, assured the people of Ogun West that in his pursuit of the Renewed Hope Agenda and to complement the work of Governor Abiodun, he would continue to facilitate projects in the area of infrastructural development, educational advancement, accessible and affordable healthcare as well as security of lives and properties.
