26th April 2024
The Oyo State government, on Thursday, commenced the fourth phase of distribution of agricultural inputs to 2,537 farmers across the state with the distribution of cassava stems, hybrid maize seedlings, herbicides and nap-sack sprayers.
The sum of N1 billion loan was disbursed to farmers through accredited microfinance banks, while thousands of poultry, fishery and piggery farmers had also benefited in the first, second and third phases of the input distribution exercise to farmers across the state.
While inaugurating the exercise at Eruwa in Ibarapa East Local Government Area of the state, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said distribution of inputs to farmers was also going on simultaneously at Igboora in Ibarapa Central Local Government and Ayete in Ibarapa North Local Government areas of the state, respectively.
Olaleye, who also doubles as chairman, SAfER Food Security Sub-Committee, said the exercise was to ensure that the state had abundant food supply for its people and also to reduce prices of foodstuff, so as to cushion the effect of economic hardship on residents of the state.
“You know that the SAfER programme has different sub-sectors. We have the food palliatives that have been distributed. We have the one on transportation. We have the one on health and this one is on food security.
“So, what we are doing today is distribution of inputs to farmers, we are distributing cassava stems, special maize seeds that can germinate faster, we are also giving out nap-sack sprayers to farmers across the state, and in addition to that, we are also giving them herbicides to protect their crops against invasion of insects and all that.
“So, in this fourth phase, not less than 2,537 farmers will benefit. You will recall that, before now, there had been three phases of food security sub-sector interventions. We have given out free maize to poultry farmers, we have given out free feeds to fish farmers, we are still distributing feeds, PKC and disinfectant to piggery farmers and this is the fourth phase”, he said.
Olaleye assured farmers that the state government through SAfER programme would, in a few days, commence free vaccination for livestock and equally distribute feeds to support livestock farmers, adding that, subsidy on use of tractors to cultivate their farms would commence in two weeks.
“By next week, free vaccination of cattle and distribution of feeds to sheep and goat farmers will also commence across the state. In the next ten days as well, subsidy on the use of tractors will commence, so if you cultivate five acres, the government will pay for two and a half acres, if you cultivate ten hectares, the government will pay for five acres for you.
“You will recall that the governor has distributed, through different finance houses, N1 billion loan to farmers, more than three thousand farmers benefited from that. So, the whole essence is to ensure there the state has abundant and sufficient food supply to bring down the prices of foodstuffs”, he said.
Rafiu Saheed, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, thanked government for the farm inputs support.
Saheed said the materials would have significant effects on their farms and produce.
