The Oyo State Commissioner for Agric, Hon. Muyiwa Jacob Ojekunle has assured of the readiness of his ministry to key into Governor’s Seyi Makinde agenda on Road Map to Accelerate Development and Economy Recovery through agriculture – to make it a reality.
Ojekunle also said that part of his vision to improve agriculture sector in Oyo State is to give priority to opening up rural roads to allow mass production of agricultural produce, pay more attention to youths in the rural areas as well as giving more focus to mechanized farming system.
The Commissioner disclosed this during an interaction with journalists during the week in his office on his vision and mission for the ministry and the people of the state.
Hon. Muyiwa Ojekunle expressed that the present administration has identified lack of focus and political will by the previous administration to capitalize on available natural resources the state is endowed with such as land and explore them to turn around the fortune of agriculture and better the lives of the people in the state.
The commissioner, while assuring that the relationship of government through the ministry with farmers will not be business as usual, explaining that there will not be opportunity for the farmers on paper (fake farmers) to take advantage of the resources and opportunities available in the ministry at the expense of those who are real farmers.
Ojekunle, who hails from Igbeti in Olorunsogo Local Government area of the state, said that being a farmer was an added advantage for him to be able to identify and differentiate real farmers from the fake ones. He opined that the present administration will engage farmers from the grassroots and ensure that whatever benefits available get to the real farmers.
In an effort to discourage rural-urban migration especially on the part of youths, the commissioner noted that part of the plans of the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde is to give attention to the state owned farm settlements and make them attractive for farmers particularly the young ones by putting in place necessary facilities, social amenities and infrastructure that will enable them to carry out their farming businesses.
On the part of the state Ministry of Agriculture, Hon. Muyiwa Ojekunle disclosed that effort have been put in place to encourage young graduates to venture into farming, noting that the ministry has opened up discussion with banks to secure loan facilities to assist the real farmers especially graduates who are willing to carry out their plans in farming businesses.
The commissioner, while reiterating the commitment of the state government to put agric on the front burner of economy recovery of the present administration, expressed that the state governor has embarked on a 3-day Agribusiness Strategic Planning Retreat and in the process visited Systeme Integre Shonghai in Porto-Novo, Benin Republic with the aim of replicating the idea to develop agric system in the state.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
