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Oyo State Government, on Friday, reassured small holder farmers of improved support and integration into the development plan of the state, in accordance with the four points agenda of the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.
The Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Adeniyi Adebisi, gave the assurance while declaring open a four-day training for Agricultural Extension workers, organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, at OYSADEP Office, Apata, Ibadan.
The commissioner said the development would spur productivity and enhance the quality of food consumed by residents of the state.
He noted that the training is one of the ways of stemming the tide of the declining number and low skill of small scale farmers which has hampered the adoption of best practices and new innovations, resulting in low productivity and rejection of Nigerian products abroad.
Adebisi promised the infusion of modern farming technology, financial assistance along with training and retraining of Oyo State farmers to engender quality assurance in the agricultural value chain.
Speaking further, the commissioner commended the Federal Government for relentlessly improving and building capacity of farmers across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, and donating three motorcycles to Oyo State for Agricultural Extension delivery, adding that the development will help smallholder farmers overcome the teething challenges associated with farming, thereby alleviating poverty and unemployment while also boosting food sufficiency.
In his remarks, the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud Abubakar, represented by the Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaja Balikis Abdulateef, stated that one of the key recommendations was to build the capacity of youths and existing practitioners in Agricultural Extension delivery system, exposing and equipping them with best global practices and tool to enable them deliver efficiently.
According to the Minister, Nigerians desire to see that that agricultural extension delivery system is competitive globally, to ensure there is adequate and quality food for the teeming population and some to augment the country’s foreign earnings.
The ceremony also had in attendance management staff of the ministry, farmers, participants from the 33 local government areas of Oyo State, seasoned resource persons, among others.