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AIYEDATIWA DISTRIBUTES OVER 20,000 BAGS OF FERTILISER TO ONDO FARMERS
No fewer than 5,040 Ondo State farmers have benefited from free fertiliser distribution by the state governor, Dr Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Flagging off the distribution on Friday in Akure, the state capital, the governor stated that the move was part of his administration’s efforts aimed at boosting food production and the local economy.
Aiyedatiwa, who was represented at the event by the state Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya, said the initiative was part of the dividends of his government’s partnership with the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the National Agricultural Development Fund, NADF.
According to him, beneficiaries were drawn from the eighteen local government areas of the state with the aim of deliberately improving the lives of the people and combating food inflation and scarcity.
In his words, “We are flagging off the direct and completely free distribution of high-quality fertiliser to 5,040 carefully selected farmers drawn from all the 18 local government areas of Ondo State.”
“We are fully aware of that the cost of agricultural inputs has placed enormous pressure on our farmers. By providing this essential input entirely free of charge, we are reducing production cost, improving soil fertility, enhancing productivity and laying the foundation for bumper harvest.” He further affirmed.
The governor therefore called for accountability and judicious use of the inputs so that the set goal would be achieved, adding that only genuine farmers should benefit from the distribution.
” I charge you to ensure that the distribution process is seamless, transparent, equitable and accountable. These inputs must reach genuine farmers for whom they are intended. There must be absolutely no room for diversion. To our beneficiary farmers, I urge you to make the best possible use of this opportunity. ” The governor concluded.
Earlier in his remarks, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Engr. Leye Akinola appreciated the National Agricultural Development Fund, NADF and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for their collaboration on the initiative.
Describing Ondo as an agrarian state, Akinola noted that the current food situation in the state and the country at large deserved drastic improvement, saying the intervention was apt and timely.
He lauded the administration of Governor Aiyedatiwa’s policies and programmes towards the development of agricultural sector in the state.
“Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has taken giant strides towards the development of the agricultural sector to align with the federal government’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” encapsulated in the Food System Transformation which was adopted to improve food production and input support to smallholder farmers.” He said.
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