It was an exciting moments for farmers in Iseyin, Kajola and Iwajowa local governments axis of Oyo state when they received their agricultural farm inputs ranging from cassava cuttings, rice seeds, tomatoes seeds, maize seeds, herbicides, fertilizers among others.
The development was in line with the promise of the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to ameliorate the suffering of farmers across all the 33 local governments of the state that were affected by the covid-19 pandemic through OYO-Cares programmes in conjunction with the World Bank under the Oyo State Agribusiness Agency (OYSADA).
Speaking with journalists on Wednesday at Iseyin Local Government Secretariat, Iseyin, the state coordinator for Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus,(N-Cares) Result Area 2, Mr. Kolawole Adewumi Bamigbola, said that the total number of the beneficiaries in all the three local government covered for agricultural inputs distribution exercise on Wednesday are two hundred and sixty (260) farmers comprises of cassava, rice, maize and tomatoes farmers.
Mr. Kolawole in his analysis said, “out of the 80 beneficiaries of the agricultural inputs in Iseyin Local Government, 30 of them are rice farmers, while 50 are tomatoes farmers. Each of the rice farmers received 10kg of rice seeds, 2
emergence herbicides and 1 liter of post-emergence herbicide.”
In Kajola local government, total number of the beneficiaries are 80 farmers, 70 cassava farmers and 10 rice farmers, each of the 70 cassava farmers presents for the distribution exercise in Okeho, the Secretariat of the local government received 20 bundles of cassava cuttings, 2 bags of NPK fertilizer and 1 liter of herbicide, while each of the rice farmers received 10kg of rice seeds, 1 liter of pre-emergence and 1 liter of post-emergence herbicides, with 2 bags of NPK fertilizer.
The total number of farmers that received the agricultural inputs in Iwajowa local government is 100 farmers, comprises of 30 maize farmers, and 70 cassava farmers.
Each of the maize farmers received 10kg of maize seeds, 2 bags of NPK fertilizer, 1 liter of pre-emergence herbicide and one liter of post emergence herbicides. While each of the 70 cassava farmers received 20 bundles of cassava cuttings, 2 bags of NPK fertilizer, and one liter of herbicide.
One of the beneficiaries in Iseyin Local Government, a tomatoes farmers, resident of Oju Baba Area of Iseyin, who farms at Ijaodola Km6 area of Iseyin, Alhaja Adediran Mutiat lauded Governor Makinde for the support. She said, “Makinde is a very kind person, he gave me Mecca slot before he becomes the governor of the state, now that God has made him the governor he didn’t forget us, he’s trying all his possible best to ensure that he fulfill all his promises made to us especially we the farmers in the state, today I received tomatoes seeds, fertilizers and herbicides, I will make good use of them, these are going to boos my farm outputs, we shall continue to pray for Governor Makinde to have a successful tenure in office, we really appreciate him.”
Another beneficiary, in Kajola local government, a rice farmer, who doubles as the chairman Hausa community of the local government, Mallam Bello Muhammed also commended Governor Seyi Makinde over what he described as timely support for genuine farmers at the grassroot.
He said, “I did not pay anything for all these that I collected here today, I received 10kg rice seeds for planting, herbicide and fertilizers, all these items are close to hundred thousand of naira in the market today and for me receiving it free of charge is something that I really appreciate may God Almighty continue to bless our Governor, I promise to make good use of the items to boost the food production in my local government.”
In their separate interviews the Executive chairman of Iseyin Local Government who was ably represented by the Director of Agriculture for the local government, Mr. Oyebisi Abraham Oyedokun, and the Acting Chairman of Kajola local government, Hon. Gideon Oyediran Bolanle commended Governor Seyi Makinde for supporting the farmers in their local governments.
They however advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the inputs given to them in order to compliment the efforts of the state government in ensuring food security across all the geo political zones of the state.
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