Adepeju Adebajo, Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development has said that the Ogun state government has invested over N4 billion to boost the production of Ofada rice in the state.
The commissioner made this known in a statement made available to BusinessDay.
Adepeju stated that part of the fund was spent in the promotion and improvement of ofada rice production in the state, thereby restoring the culture and heritage of the Ogun people and ensure food security.
“Over N4 billion has been invested from the public sector in Ofada rice production in the state. This is to ensure that economic growth plan of the Federal Government of eating what we grow is realised in the state,” said Adebajo.
“Through our direct intervention and the various development partners such as World Bank through FADAMA and IFAD-VCDP had resulted in a leap in the quantum of rice produced in the state.
“The catalytic effort of the public had resulted in the smallholder farmers dominated private sector to increase their investment in rice production in the last 3 years with 2017 being very significant,” the commissioner said.
“In increasing production and productivity, the farmers have received various supports from the public sector driven interventions and linkages of other private smallholder producers to other initiatives especially in the private sectors,” she further stated.
She stated that the patronage of MITROS rice in the state is high; noting that the people of the state have shown a lot of enthusiasm, adding that the rice has guaranteed quantity traceability and market for smallholder producer.
Adebajo also said that the Ogun state government has invested in rice mills for farmers in each of the senatorial district.
“Prior to now, there was not much rice processing mills in the state. Farmers had to travel long distances to access the few that deploy old equipment which hinders quality. The establishment of the processing mills in at least each senatorial district, ensured farmers have access to mills to process their paddy.
“In addition, the technology installed at the processing mills is cottage mills which can be easily managed and maintained by small holder farmers and processors. Moreover, the products that will emanate from the mills are of high quality and will meet the Ogun standard,” she further said.
Speaking on the support provided for farmers, she stated that farmers in the state have been provided with subsidised fertilisers, land clearing and preparation support, extension services, training on good agronomy practice and 50percent subsidy through the IFAD-VCDP and FADAMA.
Josephine Okojie
