Oyo State Government, on Friday, reassured smallholder farmers of improved support and integration into the development plan of the State, in accordance with the four points agenda of Governor Seyi Makinde led administration.

This, the Government said, would spur productivity and enhance the quality of food consumed by the people in the State.

The Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Adeniyi Adebisi gave this assurance while declaring open a 4-day training for Agric Extension Workers, organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, at OYSADEP Office, Apata, Ibadan.

Adebisi 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.

He 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 chains.

Speaking further, he commended Federal Government for relentlessly improving and building capacity of farmers across the 36 States of the Country and the Federal Capital Territory, and donating 3 motorcycles to Oyo State for Agricultural Extension delivery, adding that the development will help our smallholders 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 hinted that one of the key recommendations was to build the capacity of youths and existing practitioners in Agric 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 our agricultural extension delivery system meets global competitiveness, to ensure we have adequate and quality food for our teeming population and some to augment our foreign earnings.

The ceremony also had in attendance other management staff of the Ministry, Farmers, participants from the 33 Local Governments of Oyo State, seasoned resource persons, among others.

E-signed:

Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun,

Hon. Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism,

Oyo State

Farmers in Oyo State have been assured that all measures are in place to secure their lives as the State Government would not allow individuals masquerading as herders to halt the pace of development in the agricultural sector of the State economy.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon Ojemuyiwa Ojekunle, gave this assurance while addressing farmers from Ijaye Farm Settlement, at the Ministry’s conference room after a peaceful demonstration conducted within the State secretariat complex by the aggrieved farmers.

The farmers have protested the destruction of their farms by cattle herders which has led to loss of their investments in the farms within the Ijaye Farm Settlement.

The Commissioner noted that the Engr. Seyi Makinde-led administration is a Government of the masses which holds farmers in high esteem, urging farmers to bear in mind that economic expansion through agriculture and its value chain is one of the four point service agenda of the administration.

Hon. Ojekunle said the Government understood the plights of the farmers and would not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that farmers enjoy the fruits of their labour and secure their lives as well.

Earlier, the Chairman, Ijaye Farm Settlement Farmers’ Association, Dr. Tunde Tairu while stating their grievances, said that herdsmen and their cattle have invaded their farmland and have turned farmers to slaves on Government land for which they paid rent yearly.

Tairu said further that the herdsmen could not be challenged because they were armed with sophisticated weapons and farmers were being threatened with guns anytime they challenge the herders.

“In fact two days ago, one of our farmers that challenged them on his own farm got his left arm amputated right in our presence,” Tairu added.

He noted that Fulanis have been terrorizing farmers for a long time but the situation has become precarious, as the herders have continued to rape and kidnap their family and community members.

The protesters requested for massive presence of security personnel on their farmland and also appealed to the Government to create an office for Amotekun officials in the community, with the belief that it would scare criminals among the herders away.

Members of Ijaye Farm Settlement Farmers Association thereafter expressed gratitude to the State Government for the privilege given them to express their grievances without prejudice, while also commending the Commissioner for the native intelligence he employed in handling the situation, noting that no Government has ever given them such listening ears and opportunity for dialogue.

They pleaded with the Commissioner to ensure that action is taken and promises made by the Government are fulfilled in earnest.

The peace meeting also had in attendance the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Bolatumi Oloko, Director of Crops and Farm Settlement, Mr. Opawusi, Director Animal Husbandry, Mr. Odedele and other members of the management team.

Signed:

Wasiu Olatubosun (P.hd),

Hon. Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Ibadan.