•••Farmers pledge to crash prices of food items in Ondo State
In line with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s vision to place food security at the forefront of Ondo State’s development agenda, the Governor on Monday flagged off the distribution of maize palliatives and commodities to farmers in the State.
The 40 trailers of grains, supplied by the Federal Government, will be distributed to poultry, piggery and fishery farmers across the 18 local government areas of the State.
Speaking at the well attended event in Akure, Governor Aiyedatiwa stressed the importance of implementing measures to address the escalating food prices in the country.
The Governor highlighted the establishment of the committee on Agriculture and Food Security tasked with taking immediate action in response to this challenge.
The Governor said: “Today’s programme is the first among the activities and initiatives lined up to make our State zero tolerant to food insecurity accompanied by massive modern agricultural interventions needed to catapult us to an enviable position in the comity of States.
“The effects of painful but necessary subsidy removal on petrol had compounded the food security situation in Ondo State and indeed Nigeria. Rising inflation on food items and others have made life somewhat unbearable to the people.
“As a government, we must check this ugly trend and make sure that food is not just available, but affordable to the generality of the people”.
The Governor highlighted infrastructure projects aimed at improving market access via rural roads, as well as empowering smallholder farmers, particularly women and youths, through training, capacity building, and access to credit.
Governor Aiyedatiwa praised the significant contribution of agriculture to the state’s economy, noting Ondo State’s role in supplying 75 percent of tomatoes to markets in Lagos State.
He announced the distribution of 40 trailers of maize to poultry, fish, and piggery farmers, with plans for further distribution of various food commodities in the future.
The Governor also appreciated the support of the Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in approving the distribution of grains and other commodities across the country.
Earlier in his welcome address, Mr. Rotimi Wemimo Akinsola, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture and Food Security, commended the governor for establishing the committee as a testament to the governor’s commitment to the welfare of the people.
He stated that the committee is dedicated to realizing the governor’s agricultural initiatives and encouraged farmers who have received agricultural commodities to utilize them effectively, thereby contributing to lower prices.
He envisioned the state becoming a leading agricultural hub due to its abundant natural resources, pledging to visit farmers in their communities to understand their challenges and relay them to the governor for prompt solutions.
The Chief Press secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan said highlights of the event included presentation of award to the governor by the Ondo State Agricultural Commodities Association, OSACA.
