World Food Day: Makinde Seeks Synergy Among Food Producers
Oyo State governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has sought for more synergy among food production stakeholders for sustainable food sufficiency.
He said this during the 2024 World Food Day celebration held at Western Hall,Agodi Secretariat,Ibadan.
Governor Makinde who spoke through Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development,Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said food sufficiency is important, urging every stakeholders in food production, especially farmers in the state to key into farm tractorization subsidy, and engagement of extension workers for an effective farm model for a sustainable agricultural agenda.
Governor Makinde noted that the state had initiated several interventions aimed at supporting farmers towards achieving food sufficiency.
This according to him include distribution of 8,000 bags of fertilizers, seedlings, feeds to livestock farmers among other interventions.
The Guest Speaker on the occasion, professor Samuel Olakojo who emphasized the need for government to have up to date data of people engaging in food production and distribution said government also needed to address the issue of agricultural land being offered to developers thereby affecting exiting farm crops.
Professor Olakojo while pointing out that distribution of food chain is problematic in Nigeria noted that most profit of farmers goes to the middlemen and suggested an avenue where farmers would deliver their crops in kilogrammes to consumers.
He also advocated the adoption of modern day technology and modern storage facilities to prevent food wastages calling on government to promise agricultural policies to include road infrastructure, credit facilities, farmers monitoring and supervision and other interventions.
President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, Abass Adewumi, while urging farmers in the state to avoid jungle justice on herders and straying animals into their farm, tasked security authorities to increase their surveillance across the agrarian zones in the state for an improved food production.