Ogun State government has provided N5.4 billion worth of agricultural inputs to farmers under the state’s Economic Transformation Programme (OGSTEP), as part of efforts to boost food production and ensure food security.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Bolu Owotomo, has announced that the state
Speaking at a press conference on Monday in Abeokuta, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Bolu Owotomo said the initiative aims to increase agricultural productivity and stimulate private sector involvement in the agro-industrial value chain.
“With the input support provided, we expect farmers to produce 318,000 tonnes of commodities,” he said. “So far, we’ve harvested 65,000 tonnes, and harvesting is ongoing for an additional 92,000 tonnes.”
Owotomo revealed that farmers under the programme are projected to generate about N15.9 billion in revenue from their produce, signaling a significant return on the state’s investment in agriculture.
He noted that the ministry of agriculture has registered 160,000 farmers, of which 40,900 have been organized into 2,537 cooperative groups. So far, 22,000 farmers across the state have directly benefited from the OGSTEP input support.
In addition to material support, the commissioner said that 16,000 farmers have undergone capacity-building programmes, while 34,000 have been linked to offtakers to ensure market access for their crops.
Owotomo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting food stability across all 20 local government areas of the state through continuous intervention and investment in the agricultural sector.
The OGSTEP initiative is part of the state’s broader strategy to transform the economy by improving productivity and attracting private investment in agriculture, industry, and skills development.
NAN