The Oyo State Government has called on farmers in the state to embrace new methods of farming to ensure food security in the state and the country.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, made the call in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, as part of activities lined up to celebrate the 2023 World Food Day (WFD).
World Food Day is an international day celebrated every year worldwide on October 16 to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation in 1945.
The theme of this year’s World Food Day is ‘Sustainable food system for a healthy planet’.
Olaleye noted that the only way to improve farm yield (crops and livestock), was for the farmers “to embrace modern forms of farming,” saying there were improved seeds that could bring quality yields more than the ancient practices.
He revealed that the present government in the state, under Governor Seyi Makinde, had invested in training and retraining agricultural extension officers and farmers in various capacities, through collaborative efforts, to enhance food security.
Speaking on various efforts of the government on food security through his Ministry, the commissioner hinted that about 285 farmers were given Emergency Training and Demonstration of Climate Resilient Practices in maize, tomatoes, cassava, yam and cowpea, to enhance increased yield.
Olaleye noted that about 135 farmers were empowered with 1 bag of NPK fertilizer each, saying about 95 youths and women farmers were equally trained on processing, packaging, value addition and utilization of yam and cassava, with 80 of them also trained in all season tomatoes – tomatoes that would bring yield all year round.
He disclosed that an example of that was in the Awe Rural Community Development Centre, which is now the Oyo State-IITA Youth Agribusiness Incubation Park Centre, Awe.
Olaleye said: “We have equally distributed poultry feed to 2022 flood-affected poultry farmers in collaboration with the Federal Government. 250 farmers were trained in collaboration with Elyson Gold Consultancy on mushroom production. Animal feed quality control on the feed mill system has been introduced through feed analysers to prevent sales of poor quality feeds to farmers, most especially poultry farmers.”
He stated that the government had established a Pasture Growers Association to prevent future clashes between herders and farmers and help in the full implementation of the Grazing Control Law, noting that for livestock, training was ongoing on artificial insemination on local breeds such as turkey, sheep, goats and cattle.
“This would improve the quality and weight size of animals, making animal production more profitable within a short period for farmers. All these are modern ways of farming which the government has put in place to ensure food security in the state,” the commissioner explained.
Olaleye, therefore, urged farmers to toe the path laid by the government on the need to enhance food security, saying part of the government’s responsibility is to create a conducive environment.
He said the introduction of modern ways of farming would enhance productivity, assuring that all the efforts of the government would be revealed in the next farm harvest season.
