Prompted by the mission to improve investment in agricultural production and create value for fresh agricultural produce, Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) have established agric marts.
According to them, this is to persuade consumers to cultivate the habit of shopping at groceries and agric marts in the state. This investment in agribusiness has been made by the state government and Directorate of University Farms (DUFARMS), an agency’s of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). According to findings, the project has been undertaken to help farmers market their produce, add value to agricultural production and create employment opportunities for the jobless.
Earlier in the year, agric marts were established by the Ogun state ministry of agriculture been at Asero in Abeokuta South Local Council and Oke-Mosan in Obafemi-Owode Local Government, while Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) opened agro mart shed on campus at Alabata road in Odeda Local Government to create access for affordable fresh farm produce, fresh meat and poultry.
While opening the Ogun state-owned agric marts in Asero and Oke-Mosan early this year, Ronke Sokefun, immediate past commissioner of agriculture, said “the market is to ensure correct pricing of farm produce, sustain continuity of agricultural production as farmers will be assured of farm gate pricing of their products while public will have access to affordable fresh farm produce.”
For DUFARMS, Olusola Oyewole, vice-chancellor, FUNAAB, said the agric mart was a replica of the Songhai Farms, Republic of Benin Republic, as different agricultural produce, including fresh farm produce, processed agricultural products, fresh and smoked meat, fish, poultry products and natural drinks and oil such as palm wines palm oil, pineapple drinks will be made available.
He added that the activities of the project would be complemented with the operations of the FUNAAB Radio through the broadcast of information on University farm products to the public, thereby promoting better community interaction and co-operation.
Michael Jaiyeola, director, DUFARMS noted that the intention was to generate more income for the University and enhance the production process at zero wastage level, adding that the various end products from the farm would include cashew nut, palm oil, garri, cassava flour, yam, cucumber, moringa tree products, pineapple, maize, bush-meat, snail, plantain, banana, tomatoes, palmwine, among others.
Adeseye Ogunlewe, pro-Chancellor, FUNAAB expressed delight to be part of the remarkable achievement being made by the University, and said the agro mart was in line with the policy thrust of the Federal Government at ensuring that food security in the country, urging them to ensure that the produce get to common people government offices and companies in the state.
Expressing satisfaction at the opening of agric marts in the state, Bimpe Adeosun, a civil servant said the opening of agric marts would change people’s shopping experience and spur more investment in agricultural production as many farmers would want to produce more in order to sell more, bearing in mind that there would be market whatever produced.
Kolapo Ayinde, an Abeokuta-based business man told BusinessDay that agricultural produce bought at the marts “are always fresh since they are close to farms and are also cheaper compared to what we usually buy at informal markets around here in Abeokuta”, he concluded.
RAZAQ AYINLA
