By Barbara Nwaiwu
The Oyo State Government has commenced training for 880 farmers and agricultural extension officers on climate-smart agriculture to boost food production, strengthen resilience to climate change and reduce post-harvest losses.
The three-day training began on Wednesday, at the Fertilizer Store in Oyo, with participants drawn from the various geopolitical zones of the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan, saying the programme was being implemented under the 2025 Business Enabling Reform Action Plan (BERAP), through the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER).
He said SABER sought to improve the ease of doing business and create more business opportunities in Oyo State.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye, described climate-smart agriculture as critical to the future of food production, the economy and society.
“With the global population projected to approach 10 billion by 2050, there is an urgent need to produce more food with fewer resources. Traditional farming methods alone may not be sufficient to meet the increasing demand for food,” Olaleye said.
He explained that climate-smart agriculture involved the use of modern technologies, innovation and scientific knowledge to improve efficiency, productivity and sustainability while protecting the environment.
Olaleye said such practices would enable farmers to use fertilisers and pesticides more efficiently, reduce waste and production costs, increase profitability and minimise environmental pollution.
He called for continued investment in rural infrastructure, supportive policies, access to digital technology, agricultural education and financial support for smallholder farmers.
The commissioner said the state government would ensure that farmers were equipped with the knowledge and tools required for the transformation.
Olaleye urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the training to improve agricultural production and extension services across the state.
