The Oyo State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (OY-RAAMP) has awarded contracts worth N3.5 billion for the first phase of  physical improvement and remodelling of three markets across the state.

The three markets selected for the first phase of the physical improvement include, Aare-Alasa Market, Akanran area, Ona-Ara Local Government, Oja-Agbe Market, Iseyin Local Government, Oja-Oba Market, Ibarapa Central Local Government.

Speaking at the official signing ceremony recently, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, reaffirmed the Government’s dedication to transforming rural markets into modern, functional hubs that will drive agricultural productivity and improve access to markets across the state.

According to the Commissioner, “These markets will undergo comprehensive modernization, including upgraded infrastructure, enhanced storage facilities, improved access roads, and other critical features aimed at streamlining agricultural logistics and supporting both farmers and traders”.

In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Abosede Owoeye, described the contract signing as a significant milestone in the state’s agricultural transformation efforts stressing that the initiative aligns with Governor Seyi Makinde’s vision of ensuring food security and economic empowerment in rural communities.

In her address the OY-RAAMP Coordinator, Engr. Mrs. Adeola Ekundayo, explained that the N3.5 billion allocation covers: N1,227,196,608.81 for the Aare Alasa Market upgrade, N1,219,954,792.90 for the Oja-Agbe Market upgrade, N1,042,800,042.63 for the Oja-Oba Market improvement.

She noted that the Agro-Logistics component of RAAMP is strategically designed to enhance rural market infrastructure, ensure better linkage to rural roads, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve the accessibility of farm produce.

The contractors awarded for each project site include: Quicbond Nigeria Ltd – Aare Alasa Market, Ona-Ara LGA, Lee Fakino Nigeria Ltd – Oja-Agbe Market, Iseyin LGA, AB-Bond Habitat Ltd – Oja-Oba Market, Ibarapa Central LGA

Engr. Ekundayo however urged the contractors to actively engage with the host communities throughout the project’s execution to ensure sustainability and local support.

E-signed:

Prince Dotun Oyelade,

Commissioner for Information and Orientation,

Oyo State.

Oyo State Government has begun the first phase of distribution of motorcycles to Agricultural Extension Officers across the State as a demonstration of its determination to boost agricultural extension services in the State.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, who gave out 15 motorcycles to the agricultural extension officers on Tuesday, noted that they serve as links between researchers and farmers.

According to him, extension officers play a critical role in the dissemination of innovations and technologies to smallholder farmers to enhance productivity and improve farmers’ standard of living and ensure food security in the State.

He explained that the Governor Seyi Makinde administration will focus on addressing some of the pressing challenges facing agricultural extension services, including systemic decline driven by several key factors.

He said: “I am highly delighted to welcome you to the distribution of BAJAJ motorcycles to Officers/Extension Agents in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

“Agricultural Extension Officers (Agents) are the link between the researchers and the farmers. They play a critical role in the dissemination of innovations and technologies to the smallholder farmers, which will invariably increase their productivity and improve their standard of living and ensure food security in the State.

“Therefore, the Oyo State Government, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, approved the purchase of BAJAJ motorcycles for the Agricultural Extension Agents in the State to enhance agricultural extension service delivery.

“You will all agree with me that one of the most pressing challenges facing the Agricultural Extension Officers is the systemic decline, driven by several key factors which include critical shortage of Extension Agents due to retirements without adequate replacement.

“Other factors are young people’s reluctance to pursue careers in agriculture and entrepreneurship, lack of sufficient training and professional development of extension agents and lack of proper transportation resources, making it difficult for them to reach and serve farmers in remote villages.

“In ameliorating the observed challenges, the present administration has embarked on programmes, projects and provision of manpower, including this distribution of BAJAJ motorcycles that we are witnessing today.

“Other interventions include: Start Them Early Programme (STEP) to encourage agricultural interest in secondary school students being replicated in eight zones of Oyo State. The Government just concluded the recruitment of 161 officers across cadres in the Ministry.

“Last year, we also embarked on the training of 131 Extension Agents across the 33 LGAs and LCDAs on the use of digital applications to measure farmland under the 50 per cent tractorisation subsidy programme of the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER).

“Also, we embarked on the 50 per cent tractorisation subsidy programme under SAfER where 1,487 farmers benefited, and a total of 6,009.4083 acres of land was ploughed throughout the State.

“On this note, I have the singular honour and privilege to implore the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity to bridge the gap between researchers and farmers to boost food production, improve livelihoods and promote sustainable agricultural service delivery.”

Earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Abosede Owoeye, noted that the distribution of the motorcycles to Agricultural Extension Officers across the State would serve as tools of transformation, as they will be able to access remote farming communities more efficiently, respond promptly to farmers’ needs and also deliver timely agricultural advisory services.

She appreciated the dedication and steadfastness of the Extension Officers in the State for their contribution and achievement in the 50 per cent tractorisation programme of the State Government under the SAfER programme in 2024.

She urged them to ensure improved agricultural extension service delivery in the State.

Speaking on behalf of the Agricultural Extension Officers, Mr Akanbi Ademola thanked Governor Makinde for improving the agriculture sector and promised to complement the efforts of the State Government to ensure food security in the State.

… reveals 100 Communities  soil Testing Result.

As part of its proactive measures  to ensure food security and sustainable agricultural practices, Oyo State Government has trained farmers on climate-resilient practices, in line with the 2025 rainfall prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

Speaking on the importance of the training to farmers and  the State at large, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye said the training program is designed to educate farmers on innovative agricultural practices that can help them adapt to the predicted rainfall patterns and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

According to Barrister Olaleye, the training focuses on educating farmers on innovative agricultural practices, stressed that the practices include Drought-Tolerant Crops, Irrigation Management, Soil Conservation, and Organic Farming Practices, which can help farmers build resilience to climate-related shocks

The Commissioner equally revealed that 22,370 farmers were trained on good agricultural  practices during OCP soil testing adding that the results of soil testing conducted in 100 communities across the State in collaboration with OCP Africa would help farmers to know the types of crops to be planted in the said land, adding that the initiative would provide farmers with valuable insights into the nutrient content and fertility of their soils, enabling them to make decisions about fertilizer application and crop selection.

The Agric. commissioner explained that, according to the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, the state is anticipated to experience varying dry spell conditions across different Local Government Areas.

In her earlier address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,  Mrs. Abosede Owoeye, revealed  that by providing farmers with access to climate information, soil testing results, and training on climate-resilient practices, the Oyo State Government under the leadership of Engr seyi Makinde is demonstrating its commitment to supporting the State’s agricultural sector and ensuring food security for its citizens.

She therefore urged the participants to consider the training as train the trainers and ensure every aspect of the training is considered as importance.

In his goodwill message, the State Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Adewunmi Abass, praised the Government’s initiatives to bolster agriculture and food security.

The Chairman said, “The path forward lies in our collective commitment to adopting smart agricultural practices that not only foster resilience against climate change but also promote sustainable and profitable farming.”

“Let us recognize our role as stewards of the land, working to ensure a safer, more sustainable future for generations to come.”

The training was attended by well resource persons such as Professor Samuel Olakojo from IAR&T, Professor Mrs Morufat Balogun from IITA/UI, Dr. Nureni Ayanniyi from NCRI, Baale Agbes, Director of Agrics across the LGAs, Women in Agric and many more.

Adesoji Olusegun.

Media Officer,

MA&RD.

The Oyo State Government has mandated residents of the State to vaccinate their dogs and cats against the dreaded rabies disease.

The mandate was contained in a release issued today, by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, drawing the residents’ attention to the importance of such vaccination.

Recall that this year’s World Rabies Day was marked on September 28, 2024, with the theme “Breaking Rabies Boundary.”

Oyo State marked the event with a program that brought together veterinary professionals, pet owners, and community members in a united front against this deadly disease.

Olasunkanmi said, “All dogs and cats owners who have not vaccinated their pets should do so immediately by visiting the veterinary centres in the State”.

Barrister Olasunkanmi hinted that from research, majority of rabies cases involve dog bites hence the present Government in the State is sensitizing the general public on the needs to keep their dogs or animals in confined areas and vaccinate them regularly.

He said that it is against the Oyo State Dog Law 2019 to allow dogs to rove around without its owner.

According him, the best way to prevent rabies in humans is by vaccination of dogs and cats, at least once a year.

The Commissioner, said human rabies death according to research is 100 percent preventable with prompt vaccination of dogs and cats.

He explained that having discovered that over 70 percent of infectious diseases in humans originate from animals- Zoonotic, Oyo State Government has embarked on an all inclusive method to control rabies and other zoonotics diseases.

Olaleye said the Government has executed free mass vaccination of cattle under the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) initiative.

He added that the Government in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Livestock Productivity and Reseilince Support Project (L-Press) on 19th of August, 2024, trained veterinary Officers.

Olasunkanmi however added that refusal to vaccinate dogs and pets annually is an offence against the Oyo State Dog Law 2019, with fine of Two Hundred and Fifty Naira (#250,000) only or six months imprisonment or both.

In a related development, the Chairman Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Oyo State Chapter, Dr. John Famoyin commended Oyo State Government for its various efforts in preventing zoonotics diseases noting that September 28th every year is the World Rabies Day.

He however urged Government at all levels to ensure implementation of Dog Law.

E-signed:

Prince Dotun Oyelade,

Commissioner for Information and Orientation,

Oyo State.