WE HAVE EMBARKED ON AGRICULTURAL POLICY REVIEW TO BOOST FOOD PRODUCTION – ONDO AGRIC COMMISSIONER ARIBO
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WE HAVE EMBARKED ON AGRICULTURAL POLICY REVIEW TO BOOST FOOD PRODUCTION – ONDO AGRIC COMMISSIONER ARIBO
In a move to boost food production to cushion the current economic hardship, Ondo State government has partnered Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) to review the state agriculture policies to align with global best practices.
Disclosing this on Friday at meeting stakeholders in the Agricultural sector, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Chief Olayato Aribo, said the state has begun the review of the agricultural policies of the state.
He explained that the move was to boost food production and enhance economic growth in the state through agricultural chains.
In a statement by Sola Omoboyowa Head, Publicity and Media Relations, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Commissioner said the goal is to create a comprehensive policy guiding all agricultural practitioners in the state, which informed meeting all stakeholders in the state.
According to him, the reviewed policies would address critical areas in the sector.
Aribo added that the state government’s efforts, in partnership with PIND, demonstrates a commitment to transforming the agricultural sector and driving economic growth in the state.
He commended PIND for encouraging smallholders farmers by giving them the needed platform to enhance their productivity, stressing that smallholder farmers contribute not less than 87 percent to all agricultural produce in Nigeria
The Commissioner assured that the policy, if signed into law and implemented, the state would enjoy food sufficiency, increased income and livelihood amongst the active practitioners in the sector.
He said the draft of the reviewed policies would be presented to the state governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa for his assent after due process.
He, therefore, urged all stakeholders to give the exercise the required attention it deserves, stressing that proper planning is required and the outcome of the exercise would be the fulcrum upon which all decisions in the agricultural sector would be based.
The Advocacy Manager of PIND, Mr Chuks Ofulue, explained that Foundation is a non-profit organisation that promotes peace and equitable economic growth in the Niger Delta region through strategic partnerships and collaborations.
He added that the foundation has been contributing to strengthening and stabilising in the 9 mandate states region by reducing conflict and fostering peace and stability, poverty reduction initiatives, gender support initiatives among others.
Mr. Ofulue disclosed that PIND is working with the state government to develop agriculture policies that would transform the sector for the growth of the economy of the state and farmers.
The resource person at the workshop, Prof. Okunlola James Olaniyi, of the Department of Agriculture Extension, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), said the policy is a statement of action and fundamental tool used in achieving agriculture development.
He said that the policy would give direction, provide objectives, strategies among others.
Mr Franklin Oloniju of Life and Peace Development Organisation (LAPDO) said the document was developed in 2018, but needed to be reviewed to meet current situations and economic realities for better performance.
He was optimistic that the state government would key into the document to see it becomes law because of the view towards agriculture and passion to tap into vast potential available in the agricultural sector in the state.
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