The Ogun State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme has commenced a four-day community sensitisation and awareness campaign across four participating local government areas—Obafemi-Owode, Odogbolu, Ijebu-East and Yewa North—covering 40 communities.
The programme, aimed at sensitising stakeholders and host communities ahead of the take-off of the designated Agro-Industrial Hub (AIH) and Agricultural Transformation Centres (ATCs) as well as education on the objectives, opportunities and benefits embedded in the initiative.
Speaking during the exercise, the National Programme Coordinator, Dr. Yusuf Kabir, explained that the integration of farmers, processors, community leaders, farmer organisations, women leaders, traditional rulers, security personnel and other value-chain actors, including investors, was expected to boost food security, create jobs and drive industrialisation.
Dr. Kabir, who was represented by the National Knowledge Management and Communication Officer, Mr. Babangida Shehu, disclosed that the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) had been supporting farmers with inputs and capacity building, empowering youths and women and facilitating access to market linkages to enhance agricultural productivity.
He added that the African Development Bank (AfDB) was focusing on the construction of Agro-Industrial Hubs and Agricultural Transformation Centres in the State.
The State Programme Coordinator, Mrs. Kehinde Jokotoye, represented by the State Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mr. Ibrahim Bushi, stated that cassava and rice were the priority crops for the year. He added that four additional States would be included in the programme next year, while farmers who had already benefited from the initiative would be linked to off-takers and financial institutions.
The Chairman of Obafemi-Owode Local Government, Hon. Sina Ogunsola, represented by the Supervisor for Agriculture, Hon. Muyiwa Ojebiyi, noted that farming remained one of the major occupations in the area. He assured that communities in the local government would continue to support the SAPZ programme to enhance socio-economic development.
In his contribution, the Divisional Officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Temitope Obasan, sensitised farmers on the need to promptly report conflicts, particularly those arising between farmers and herders. He advised against taking the law into their hands and provided emergency contact numbers and details of nearby duty stations for escalation of security concerns.
Also speaking, the Productivity Officer, Mr. Wale Odunayo, disclosed that preparations were ongoing for the distribution of dry-season farming inputs, urging farmers to take full advantage of the initiative.
Meanwhile, the Environment and Climate Change Officer, Mrs. Temidayo Adedigba, educated farmers on weather and information advisory services designed to provide weather forecasts and guidance on planting periods and fertilizer application to reduce post-harvest losses.
Appreciating the Government on behalf of other stakeholders, the Baale of Oke-Ayo, Mr. Makinde Ade, commended the government’s contributions and the renewed hope Agenda towards driving growth in the agricultural sector.
The Ogun State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme is a Federal Government initiative implemented in collaboration with the Ogun State Government, the African Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
Credit: Damilola Akindele,
Knowledge Management and Communication Officer,
Ogun SAPZ