The Oyo State Government has begun the third phase of distributing agricultural inputs to farmers. It has distributed two bags of 50kg feed and two bottles of disinfectant to 1,000 pig farmers.
According to a release signed by Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser (Media) to Oyo State Governor, the phase will also witness the free vaccination of at least 120,000 cattle with the anthrax and the CBPP vaccine. In comparison, the state government will also vaccinate another 250,000 cattle, goats and sheep.
On Wednesday, the Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said this in Ajaawa, Ogo Oluwa Local Government, during the flag-off of the third phase of the distribution of farm inputs to farmers in the state.
He added that 1,000 sheep and goat farmers across the state will equally receive two bags of 50kg wheat offal each.
He noted that the effort continues measures introduced by Governor Seyi Makinde under the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) initiative to cushion the effect of economic hardship on state residents.
At the event held at the Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Secretariat, Ajaawa, Olaleye, who also doubles as the chairman of the SAfER Food Security Sub-Committee, recalled that thousands of poultry and fishery farmers in the state had benefited in the first and second phases of the inputs distribution exercise.
He lauded the state governor for sustaining agricultural activities in the state through the SAfER initiative. He added that the initiative, which targets crop, poultry, fishery and livestock farmers, is aimed at supporting small and medium-scale scale to relieve them of the current economic hardship.
The commissioner added that besides relieving farmers of the economic hardships caused by the removal of fuel subsidies, the initiative will also improve feed quality and quantity for livestock production, which will grow the economy.
The commissioner added that, as part of efforts to support farmers in the state, the governor recently announced a N600 million subsidy on land clearing. Under this subsidy, farmers will pay only N15,000 per hectare instead of the N30,000 they were charged earlier.
He noted that the governor had also waived farm tax produce transport within the state. He urged farmers to show fidelity to the government by reflecting the support they received from the government in the pricing of foodstuffs in the coming months.
“I would like to urge the farmers to be faithful to the government and also to support our people. If they are getting free things from the government, they should also ensure they correspondingly reduce the prices of goods.
“Don’t forget that the government has given out 400kg of maize to 2,600 poultry farmers and we have given out to 1,000 fish farmers as well.
The governor has said that for the next six months, no farmer should pay tax on farm produce in the state. He has also promised to support farmers with 50 percent payment for the tractor used on their farmlands.
“We have also given out a N1bn loan to farmers and the government is ready to do more for the farmers in the state.”
In their separate goodwill messages, the Member representing Ogo Oluwa State Constituency, Honourable Abideen Adeoye and the chairman, Ogo Oluwa Local Government, Mr. Oluwaseun Ojo, expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde for taking the SAfER initiative to the grassroots.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs Christianah Abioye, commended the state government for the continuous exercise and support to the farmers to improve their businesses.
She urged the beneficiaries to complement the state government’s efforts by making good use of the interventions.
Also in his remarks, the chairman, Piggery Farmers Association, Mr Tope Oye-Alamu, expressed gratitude to the state government for including pig farmers as beneficiaries of the state government initiative, noting that his sector had never benefited from such an effort before.
Also speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Mary Adebayo, a pig farmer in Ogo Oluwa Local Government, appreciated the gesture of the state government.
