The
Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi on Thursday called on
Agricultural Research Institutes and other stakeholders to come up with
innovative and proactive ideas that will enhance Agriculture development
in the country, disclosing that the 28,454 arable land areas in the
state remain as a veritable investment destination for local and global
investors.
Governor
Ajimobi, who spoke at the State Agriculture Investment Summit and
Exhibition held at the Conference Centre, International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, said that the present
administration in the state is very focused on the development of
agriculture, reiterating that the importance of agriculture in nation
building cannot be overemphasized.
He said that the summit with the theme: “Transforming
Oyo State’s Agriculture and Agro-Allied Industry: Private Sector
Participation,” was very apt at a time that the country is looking for a
permanent solution to the problem of food insecurity, unemployment and
retard in rural development as well as obsolete technology in our great
nation.
The
governor said, “It gladdens my heart that this summit is holding today
and I am more delighted to note that though the State parades a lot of
research institutions, this is the first attempt to synergize with the
leading agro-based research institute in tropical Africa – IITA, from
which we expect tremendous and realistic support and outcome.
“It
must therefore be noted that once we succeed particularly by ensuring a
demand driven solution, we would have consolidated our mission. This
summit became imperative in order to bridge the gap among farmers,
processors, agro allied industries, Government, agricultural/commercial
banks and other stakeholders with the ultimate aim to trigger the Oyo
State’s agro and agro allied sectors,” Senator Ajimobi said.
The Governor said that the state government has made modest efforts to buttress
its unflinching commitment and determination for further agricultural
development including the exploitation of value addition in the
agricultural chain in Oyo State.
He
said that the state government has developed twenty five (25) years Oyo
State Agriculture road map as well as nine agro industrial parks in our
forest reserves, saying that the state has a realistic Agricultural
Land policy of 250,000Ha which provides for allocation of various
hectares to individuals, groups and corporate Bodies for farming.
Sen.
Ajimobi said that the State Government through the State Government
Agricultural Initiative (OYSAI) has produced 750 metric tons of maize,
865 metric tons of cassava, adding that there was collaboration with the
Dangote Group for massive Rice production.
He
noted that the present administration in the state has distributed 7.5
million latest hybrids of cocoa, maize and cashew seedlings to farmers
for free as well as the provision of infrastructure for Extension
Officers to strengthen extension service delivery to rural farmers.
The
Governor said that the state government has engaged in the procurement
of 388 tractors and matching implements for mechanized farming;
procurement and distribution of over 10,000 metric tons of assorted
fertilizers and agro chemicals yearly at highly subsidized rates to
farmers, establishment of linkage between Primary producers and
processors (integrated value chain process), disbursement of over one
billion naira loan to farmers to enhance farming activities in the State
and collaboration with FGN and International Development
Partners/Agencies for further infrastructural development.
In his remarks, the Deputy Director of IITA, Dr. Kenton Dashiell called for motivation of Agro dealers to create opportunities for private investors in the agriculture sector.
In
his address, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources
and Rural Development, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi said that Agriculture is
no longer being practiced for private consumption but now a major
enterprise that drives the economy of developed countries
He
said this necessitated the reason why the state government commenced
investigation on how agriculture could be used to benefit the
industries.
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