The Oyo state government has trained 165 youths and women farmers on cultivation, pest control and processing of improved varieties of three staple crops.
According to the government, the training, which includes planting and processing of Orange -Fleshed Sweet Potato(OFSP), Vitamin A Cassava and Vitamin A maize will enhance quality nutrition and value addition.
Declaring the One-day Training open, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye advised farmers to adopt good agricultural practices in the cultivation of improved varieties of crops.
The training was organized in collaboration with Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition GAIN, held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat Ibadan.
Olaleye said youths and women in the state are being taught on how to plant and process Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato, Vitamin A Cassava and Vitamin A Maize to enhance and enrich nutritional content of food production and food security in Oyo state.
According to him, the training will guarantee more yield per hectare and for value addition.
The Commissioner added that this ‘Training the Trainer’ programme is another focused effort of the government to alleviate the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.
He advised farmers in the state to embrace improved varieties of cassava stems as they have enormous benefits and give more yield per hectare.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the efforts of the state government on Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) initiatives of the state government on distribution of 400kg of maize grains to each poultry farmers in the state where 2665 farmers benefitted; 1000 fish farmers across the state also received fish feeds while 100kg of palm kernel cake (PKC) and 2 bottles of disinfectants would be given to 1000 pig farmers each.
He added that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will henceforth carry along the Directors of Agriculture in all the 33 local government areas of the state in every activity organized by the Ministry in order to reach out to the grassroots.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Christiana Abioye said the seminar is another milestone in the history of the Ministry in a time like this when the whole country is passing through a hard time of food scarcity and hunger.
Abioye, who commended the government for the support to farmers, observed that cassava production in the country required good agronomic practices for high yield.
In her remarks, the Head of Policy, Advocacy and Communication, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Barrister Joyce Akpata commended the Oyo State Government for creating a conducive environment which allows them to operate among other participating states.
She stressed that GAIN has been operating in 4 local government areas in the state but due to prioritization in agriculture by the present government under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde, the opportunity has been extended to the 33 local governments in the state.
Barr. Akpata affirmed that by extension, the move would increase the nutrition intake of the citizens through massive production.
Speaking on behalf of the Farmers, the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Oyo State chapter, Adewumi Abass thanked the government for its numerous ongoing efforts to ensure food security in the state adding that with these efforts, Oyo state would indeed be a food basket of Nigeria.
Present at the training were the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Ojedokun Peter; Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and member, Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Mrs Olufunke Comforter, Professor Mrs Folake Samuel, among others.