Our Doors are opened to Farmers to Access Technical, Advisory Services and farm inputs – Ondo Govt
The Justice Development and peace centre(JDPC), Action Aid and in collaboration with the state ministry of Agriculture brought together stakeholders in Agric sector have commemorated this year’s world Food day.
At the event in Akure, the Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Olayato Aribo, commended farmers in the state for their support to the present administration in the state.
Represented Mrs Clara Ahayi, the commissioner expressed disatisfaction at the attitude of some farmers who refused to repay loan given to them by government.
According to him“ The ministry’s door is open to farmers to access Technical and Advisory Services and farm inputs to boost their agricultural production.”
He assured the farmers that government will continue to remain focused, responsive and accountable to them.
The Commissioner added that government will continue to create enabling environment that will ensure that every individual contribute his/her quota to the rapid development of the state’s agricultural sector.
Other stakeholders at the event, including representatives of Federal Ministry Agriculture, Mr Kazeem AbdulAzeez, Programme Manager, ADP, Mr Ogunleye Babajide Adegboyega, Mr Ajayi Ademola, Head of Department, Crop production, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, all agreed that government at all levels need to invest more in Agriculture especially at this crucial period in Nigeria.
Ondo State coordinator, Smallholder Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON), Mrs Grace Oyediji, tasked Ondo state government to take agriculture as business and trust that it can contribute to the revenue of the state.
She said, “In the second quarter of this year, statistics shows that agriculture contributed 23.2 percent, which is the highest to the economy of the country, this shows that with deliberate funding and strategic implementation with monitoring and evaluation of the agriculture, farmers will be smiling to bank, trajectory increase of the state’s IGR and food on the table of the people of Ondo state.
Others stakeholders described the theme of this year event ‘ Right to foods for a better life and a better future’ as timely.
Programme Officer, JDPC, Mr Tobi Olayemi, who briefed the audience on SUPIA 11 an Strategic Partnerships on Agroecology and Climate Justice(SPAC) West-Africa Nigeria, shared experiences, workable modalities towards achieving the ultimate aim of scaling up public Investments in Agriculture.
The event also features displayed of farm goods , Exhibition, among others.
World food day is celebrated every October 16 to promote global awareness about the day and ensure healthy diet for all with the projection to eradicate hunger by 2030.
The day was originally founded by the United Nations in 1945 and first commemorated by the food and Agriculture organization in 1979.
