AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
A total of 965 farmers have been captured in the ongoing distribution of agricultural inputs under the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency scheme being run in conjunction with the World Bank.
Available record shows that the 965 beneficiaries, drawn from Iwajowa, Kajola, Iseyin, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, Ido, Saki East, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Oriire, Ogbomoso South and Surulere local government council areas, are maize farmers, tomatoes farmers, cassava farmers and rice farmers.
Sheriff Aderemi Adeojo, Chairman, Ido Local Government Council Area, advised the 90 beneficiaries of the agricultural inputs from his locality to make good use of the items in fulfilment of Governor Seyi Makinde’s plan to ensure food security in the state.
Expressing gratitude to Governor Makinde over his gestures, Adeojo stated that the materials given were to cushion the effected of the Covid-19 pandemic for farmers in the state.
“We have to appreciate Governor Seyi Makinde for supporting our farmers with the agricultural inputs which I believed will boost farm products at the end of this farming season. I want all the beneficiaries to make good use of their inputs as this will not only boost their products but also compliment the efforts of the state governor toward ensuring food security across the length and breadth of the state.
“We are farmers in Ido Local Government Council and we have schools for farmers right here in our secretariat where we train farmers on new innovations of farming and mechanized ways of farming. I want to assure all of you that are yet to be members of this school that we will register you free of charge and we shall continue to carry you along.
“For those of you that are yet to benefit from the kind gesture of the state governor, I’m using this opportunity to appeal to you to please relax, your time will soon come. The governor has again promised to assist another set of 10,000 farmers across the state. This is one of the palliatives set in motion to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal, so I believe you will all be captured in the next phase of the distribution,” he said.
Mr. Kolawole Adewumi Bamigbola, state coordinator for the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus, Result Area 2, put the total number of the beneficiaries in Ido Local Government Council at 90, saying that this included 80 cassava farmers and 10 tomatoes farmers.
Bamigbola said, “Each of the cassava farmers received 20 bundles of cassava cuttings, 2 bags each of NPK fertilizer and 1 liter of herbicide. While each of the 10 tomatoes farmers received 25 sachets of tomatoes seeds, one and half bags of fertilizer, 1 liter of pre-emergence herbicide and one liter of post-emergence of herbicide.”
He further stated that a total number of 100 farmers received agricultural inputs in Eruwa, Secretariat of Ibarapa East Local Government Council Area, adding that each of the 80 cassava farmers in the local government received 20 bundles of cassava cuttings, 2 bags of NPK fertilizer, and 1 liter of herbicide.
He stated further that each of the 20 maize farmers in the council area received 10kg of maize seeds, 2 bags of NPK fertilizer, as well as 1 liter of pre and post-emergence herbicides.
In Ayete, Secretariat of Ibarapa North Local Government Council Area, no fewer than 60 farmers comprising 30 cassava farmers and 30 maize farmers, received agric inputs.
