Oyo begins fertiliser distribution to 10,500 farmers

The Oyo State Government in collaboration with the Federal Government, on Tuesday, commenced free distribution of 21,000 bags of assorted fertilisers to over 10,500 farmers in the state.

The event was held at OYSADA Ware House, Fertiliser Store, Laniya, Ojongbodu area in Oyo town.

While declaring it open, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, described the event as a testament to Governor Seyi Makinde’s resolve to increase food production and boost the economy of the state.

He said the gesture would improve crop productivity, enhance food security and increase the income of rural farmers, adding that the state government was committed to boosting agricultural productivity and positioning farmers for sustainable growth and prosperity.

“The administration is aware of the challenges of insecurity and soaring prices of agricultural production inputs faced by farmers in this state, and as a result given approval to the requests by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through Sustainable Action for Economic Reform to procure and distribute various agricultural inputs at the beginning of this season.

“The inputs include tonnes of maize seeds, soybean seeds, Knapsack sprayers, agro chemicals to build the resilience of farmers against economic shocks.”

Also speaking, the Oyo State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of  Agriculture and Food Security, Kakulu Omonele, represented by an officer in the ministry, Bilkis Abdulateef, said the Central Bank of Nigeria donated about 100,000metric tonnes (2,000,000 bags) of assorted fertilizer to the Federal Government of Nigeria as its support to address the food crisis in the country.

“President Bola Tinubu had directed the CBN to hand over the assorted brands of fertilisers to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for onward allocation and distribution to all states and the FCT for further distribution to farmers in their various states.”

She commended the efforts of the state government for evacuating its consignment within the specified period, and urged the beneficiaries to utilise the fertilisers for the intended purpose

About 250 farmers from the Akinyele Local Government Area of the state received two bags of fertilisers each to boost their agricultural production.