To boost food efficiency and promote agricultural activities
in the state, Ogun State Government said it would revive existing eight farm
settlements.
This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for
Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, while speaking with journalists in his office
recently.
He said that the Dapo Abiodun-led government had resolved to
surpass the agricultural legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who initiated the farm
settlements in the state.
“The farm settlements when refurbished, will have arable
lands, accommodation for farmers, electricity, water supply, modern implements
and ready market for farm produce,” he added.
He expressed optimism that farmers who want to leverage on
Anchor Borrowers’ Programme could also settle in any of the farmlands.
Meanwhile, the commissioner admonished farmers to start
getting ready for this year’s planting season by clearing their farmlands,
procuring of seedlings and fertilisers.
He, however, cautioned them against planting now as the
current level of rainfall is not sufficient for farming, except those in the
riverine or swamping areas.
Odedina while presiding over an in-house meeting which focused on the roadmap of the Ministry,
posited that the advice became imperative in view of the first rainfall,
capable of luring farmers into tilling of land for planting.
He submitted that, apart from providing enabling environment
for all categories of farmers in the state and linkage with relevant anchors,
the Ministry is obligated to periodically enlighten farmers on the exact period
to commence planting
Lending his voice to the Commissioner’s counsel, Permanent
Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Dotun Sorunke submitted that the need to educate
farmers on the exact period for next planting cannot be over stressed.
Giving a talk earlier on ‘Cascading and Discussing the
General Effect of 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction’, as predicted by the
Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMet), Director of Tree Crops in the Ministry, Oyesola James
said farmers must be adequately guided so as not to rush into planting as
result of the first rainfall, describing it as a “false onset”.
He charged farmers to watch out for severe dry spell that
may last for 10 to 21 days in the course of the year over the coast of Lagos,
Ibadan, Akure, Iseyin, Ilorin, Ado Ekiti and some parts of Ogun State,
describing the period as a “little dry season”.
He maintained that the Ministry is poised at assisting the
government achieve self-sufficiency through the different agricultural
policies.
Oyesola further disclosed that the Ministry will continue to
avail farmers information on climate information services, needed for
behavioural changes in farming practices, skills, knowledge, crop advice for
rural farmers among others.
