The Ogun State Government has intensified efforts to boost food production through large scale mechanisation and youth driven farming initiatives, as part of its broader agricultural transformation agenda.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Bolu Owotomo, disclosed this on Thursday while speaking with journalists, saying the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun had deployed multiple programmes aimed at strengthening food security and improving farmers’ livelihoods across the state.
According to him, key initiatives being implemented include the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project, OGCARES, the Value Chain Development Programme and the Special Agro Industrial Processing Zones.
He explained that the programmes are designed to improve productivity, reduce post harvest losses and enhance value addition within the agricultural sector.
Owotomo said the state government had procured 40 tractors alongside 10 bulldozers and harvesters to drive farm mechanisation, noting that the equipment would ease land preparation and harvesting for farmers.
He added that solar powered and petrol powered pumping machines had also been distributed to support dry season farming and year round cultivation.
The commissioner stated that the government had invested heavily in infrastructure within farm settlements and agricultural estates, with facilities such as poultry pens, fish processing centres and storage warehouses already constructed to support agribusiness operations.
He further said the state was promoting climate smart agriculture while strengthening farmer support systems and expanding market access through digital platforms.
According to him, partnerships with international organisations have also been secured to attract funding, technical expertise and capacity building support.
“These interventions are expected to enhance food security, reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth in Ogun State,” Owotomo said.
He revealed that special attention was being given to youth participation through programmes such as the Ogun Youth Agricultural Programme, which targets about 8,000 young people annually in areas like greenhouse and hydroponics farming.
Owotomo noted that the ministry was aligning its activities with the state’s economic transformation agenda, while strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems and deepening public private partnerships to ensure sustainability.
He urged farmers in the state to take advantage of the various support programmes, assuring them of the government’s commitment to their welfare and the continuous growth of the agricultural sector.
