By Ayodele Oni
It was the turn of livestock farmers in Ondo state as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa distributed 40 trailers of maize to poultry, fish, and piggery farmers.
This is in line with Governor’s vision to place food security at the forefront of Ondo State’s development agenda.
At the flag off of the programme on Monday in Akure, the Governor explained that this gesture was in form of palliatives to farmers in the State.
A statement by Ebenezer Adeniyan, chief Press Secretary to the governor, stated that the 40 trailers of grains, were supplied by the Federal Government, and will be distributed to poultry, piggery and fishery farmers across the 18 local government areas of the State.
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 infrastructural 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.
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 Akinsola, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture and Food Security, commended the governor for establishing the committee as a testament to the 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.
