The Ogun State government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting farmers towards contributing significantly to the economy and enhancing their livelihood.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owootomo, stated this during the flag-off of the distribution of fertilisers and other biological inputs to farmers in the Ikenne agricultural zone

Mr Owootomo said the programme was organised by the State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) in conjunction with the zone’s Value Chain Development Firms, AGRIQ Business Services Limited, FishShoal Nigeria, and Aquatic Hub Afrique Network, in Obafemi-Owode Egba.

According to him, the exercise was in continuation of the present administration’s efforts to ensure food security.

The commissioner, represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Samuel Adeogun, said the inputs’ distribution was to increase food production and productivity among farmers in the state.

He stated that over 30,000 farmers had benefitted from various interventions by the state government to ensure food sufficiency and security.

“Let me assure you that the present administration is not resting on its oars and will continue to focus on the agricultural sector, which is one of the major pillars of the ‘ISEYA’ mantra of this administration,” he said.

The commissioner urged youths to engage in agriculture, stressing that mechanisation and technology-driven practices would be promoted to position Ogun among the leading states in Nigeria.

In his remark, the project manager, Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), Agric sector, Oluseyi Olugbire, said the project was targetted at improving the livelihood and production of small-scale holder-farmers, urging them to utilise the support judiciously.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Olaniyi Olowu from the Ikenne Local Government Area and  Temitope Solomon from Sagamu expressed gratitude to the government for the distribution.

(NAN)