2024 World Food Day: Governor Adeleke assures Osun farmers of his commitment to mechanised farming

 Sunday Okunade

The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has reiterated his administration's commitment to mechanised farming and thereby boosting the food supply in the State and nation at large.

The Governor stated this in Osogbo, the State Capital during the year 2024 World Food Day celebration. 

He noted that his administration has  continued to make significant investment in Agriculture which is a critical sector of the economy, aiming to boost food production, not only to make it available but also affordable and beneficial to the entire population.

The Governor who explained that he had earlier set up a Food Security Implementation Committee to put into effect the report of the Food Security Committee that was previously submitted, said the Committee composed of tested professionals across the agriculture sub-sectors has been meeting to put into effect the recommendations of the original food security committee. 

The Osun first citizen decried slow pace of work within the implementation committee, stressing that, the State is on emergency which all should act to secure food supply and access for the citizens. He urged the Commissioner for Agriculture to take urgent steps to ensure that the implementation committee delivers on its mandate.

The Governor spoke further, "As part of efforts to strengthen productivity of the sector, you all will recall our Government procured thirty-one (31) brand new Tractors. That delivery was the first phase with further delivery expected soon. We have since commenced the deployment process to local governments. This however includes installation of tracking devices on the tractors to secure the assets, the finalization of a private sector based management of the assets and ongoing partnership with farmers’ association on the leasing of the tractors for farm use.

"We have  launched an agropreneur project which I promised earlier. Each local government is expected to provide at least 1000 hectares of land for a special incubation farming project for young agropreneurs. We have a productive partnership with the German Development Agency, GIZ to train and empower agropreneurs", the Governor stated.

While assuring farmers of his commitment to mechanisation and innovations, as he has attended a livestock conference in France in the last few days, the Governor promised to implement the new practices about innovations in livestock farming, just as he said the Government has strike  partnership deals with French partners and even the office of the French Government on International Development. 

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in Osun, Otunba Tola Faseeru expressed gladness for witnessing this year's world food day celebration. 

He noted that no government whatsoever will be comfortable with the continuous rise in prices of food stuff in the  Country, hence the desire of the State Government under the leadership of Senator Ademola Adeleke to take a proactive steps in nipping the food scarcity in the bud by procuring 31 tractors, distribution of 6,000 packs of various vegetable seedlings, 8,000 litters herbicides and fertiliser among others to farmers, pledging that Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in the Agric sector towards achieving the objectives of food security for all Osun citizens.