Govt interventions in agric sector boost farmers’ productivity, food prices in Oyo— Commissioner

…trains 4,800 farmers on modern techniques, 21,000 hectares of farmland cultivated

The Oyo State Government says it has made significant progress in food production through deliberate agricultural interventions that have lowered food prices and boosted farmers’ productivity across the state.

The state achieved massive gains in agricultural output over the last three years, attributing the progress to the present administration’s consistent investments in mechanised farming, seed distribution, fertiliser support, and training for farmers.

Olasunkanmi Olaleye, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, disclosed this while welcoming to his office the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, who paid him a courtesy visit on his birthday.

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According to him, the prices of key food items have dropped drastically due to the government’s sustained agricultural programmes. “Cassava price was about ₦600,000 per truck three years ago but today it’s less than 150,000 because of massive investments in agriculture by this administration,” he said.

The commissioner highlighted four major interventions that have transformed the state’s agricultural landscape, including the distribution of 65,000 bundles of cassava stems to farmers, the provision of hybrid and high-yield seeds, free fertiliser supply, and the state’s tractorization programme.

Under the tractorization initiative, the government covers 50 per cent of the ploughing cost for farmers. “If a farmer intends to plough 20 acres, the government pays for 10 acres. That means those who could only cultivate 10 acres before are now able to do 20. The effect has been massive food production across the state,” he explained.

Olaleye added that more than 7,000 farmers have benefited from this year’s round of government-supported mechanised farming, with over 21,000 hectares of farmland cultivated so far this year against 6,000 hectares last year.

He also revealed that over 12,000 bags of fertiliser have been distributed to farmers free of charge, with nearly 6,000 farmers benefiting. Depending on their farm sizes, beneficiaries received between two and five bags each.

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“By removing the burden of fertilizer and ploughing costs, the government has made farming easier and cheaper. This has helped farmers to expand their operations and lower the cost of production,” he said.

In addition, the commissioner noted that between November and April, about 4,800 farmers were trained on modern farming techniques, including proper seed timing, fertiliser application, and pest control, as a move that has improved both efficiency and yield.

Olaleye also disclosed that more than 20,000 tons of cassava have been exported through the Ibarapa axis alone and signifying the Government’s intention to impose a tax regime on the exportation.

He further revealed that the state had achieved remarkable success in animal husbandry, following the free vaccination exercise for over 120,000 cattle and 89,000 sheep and goats. “We recorded a sharp reduction in livestock fertility this year, and our farmers are smiling,” he said.

According to him, the ministry has also extended support to poultry and piggery farmers through the free distribution of animal feed.

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Speaking on the government’s Social and Economic Recovery (SAFER) Programme, Olaleye said most of the agricultural interventions were designed as part of efforts to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on citizens.

“The tractorization and input distribution initiatives were all designed as a response to the rising cost of transportation and food items that followed the removal of subsidies,” he stated.

He said the government remains strongly committed to sustaining the agricultural transformation agenda, stressing that the ultimate goal is to make Oyo State a leading food-producing hub in Nigeria.