Oyo State House Committee Chairman on Agriculture and Rural Development shower encomium on GSM for his giant strides in the Agric Sector at the “1st South West and Neighbouring States Agric Summit” held on February 21st, 2024 at Laps New World Hotel, Jabi Abuja.
Hon. Ojedokun Peter, the Oyo State House Committee Chairman on Agriculture and Rural Development representing Ibarapa North / Ibarapa Central eulogizes GSM on innovations and immense works on Agriculture in Oyo State. He stated few great moves of GSM towards creating conducive environment and facilities for Agriculture, Such as provision of good road network to food producing zones like Ibarapa and Okeogun. He also spoke about farm settlements that are ready to make giant impact on the Agric Sector in the state. “Eruwa, Akufo, Awe and Fasola Farm settlements no doubt are great achievements of Governor Seyi Makinde”, he added.
In his words, he gave kudos to the governor of Oyo State for the new LOAN facilities worth billions of naira approved for Crop and Livestock Farmers. He also made references to the over 3,000 Youths that went to Nasarawa for Agric Training ready to impact the knowledge they have garnered.
Furthermore, Hon. Ojedokun said if all Southwest and neighbouring states governors can imitate GSM, food will be in abundance and youths will surely be fully engaged. This, on the other hand will reduce social vices and our GDP will gradually increase as our Agric Sector starts contributing to the economy immensely.
He equally commended the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Ogundoyin Adebo and other Members of the Agric Committee for their unimaginable contributions to the growth and development of Agric Sector through different oversight and other functions.
Hon. Ojedokun added that as we are approaching another season of farming stakeholders must make sure that they increase productivity beyond bond as we are blessed with all variables that can make our GDP increase via Agric Sector.
He said he so much appreciate this Summit as it is timely with the Title: “Revolutionalization of Agric Sector via Mechanization” He said for us to have increase in production of farm produce we have to go into Mechanized Farming as farming is the bedrock of all other sections in Agric Sector.
In addition,he said gone are the days when we use to have Companies that Assemble Tractors and other Farm implements. He said with high rate of foreign currencies it will not be easy to import and (or) buy farm equipments and machineries again. He said all hands must be on deck to make South West in particular and Nigeria in general to bring back the good old days where all development comes from production of Cocoa, Rubber, Coffee, Cashew, Groundnuts,Hide of Skins and so on.
He said as the Oyo State House Committee Chairman on Agriculture and Rural Development that he and his committee members will work tirelessly to ensure that the Communique stated below is implemented.
COMMUNIQUE at the end of “1st South West and Neighbouring States Summit held at Laps New World Hotel, Jabi, Abuja on Wednesday February 21st 2024.
(1) CLUSTER OF AGRIC EXPERTS WITH AIM OF ACQUIRING TRACTOR(S):
We are clusters of Agric Experts in different sections coming together under “Model Empire Farms Limited” with the singular Aim of acquiring a Tractor so as to commence 2024 Farming Season and as well be Subsidizing Hiring Services to other Farmers. We are appealing to all well meaning Nigerians and those in good positions of Authorities to help make this a reality.
(2) ACCESS / ALLOTMENT TO GOVERNMENT FARM LANDS:
We are appealing and or calling on Local Governments/ State Governments and Federal Government to give us Farm Lands any where in South West and Neighbouring States where security will be more guaranteed and Fulani Herders trespassing will be minimal.
(3) APPEAL TO MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES TO CONSIDER “OGUN / OSUN RIVER BASIN” AMONG THOSE TO BE UNDER ‘NATIONAL IRRIGATION SCHEME’:
In a bid to tackle high food prices, the Minister of Water Resources & Sanitation “Engineer Joseph Utsev” disclosed on Thursday 15th February that over 20,000 Hectares of irrigable land will be handed over to farmers, he disclosed that while delivering Key Note address at the official opening ceremony of the 30th Regular Meeting of the “National Council on Water Resources & Sanitation” with the Theme: “People, Planet and Prosperity- promoting water governance for National Food Security.
He said some completed irrigation schemes have been completed and handled over to farmers for cultivation through World Bank Sponsored ” Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria” (TRIMING) project.
Those completed and handed over are 5,750 hectares irrigation scheme in Jigawa State; Kano River 14,444 hectares irrigation scheme in Kano State; Gari 2,114 hectares irrigation project in Kano and Jigawa states.