Ondo state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa says his administration is fully committed to the security of lives and property especially the farmers in the 18 council areas of the state.
Governor Aiyedatiwa made the remark at the inauguration ceremony of the new executive members of the Ondo state agricultural commodities association OSACA held at the women development skill and acquisition centre in Akure.
The 26 affiliated bodies of the Ondo state agricultural commodities association OSACA gathered at the women acquisition centre of the Ministry of women affairs and social development to usher in their new executive that will pilot their affairs for the next three years.
In his address, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa saluted the farmers and congratulated the new executives charging them on increased food sufficiency, reduction of prices of agricultural products and leveraging on the use of technology to boost production.
Represented by his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, Aiyedatiwa said his administration has initiated and delivered nobel agricultural programs to sustain food production in the state.
According to him “Dear Ondo state farmers, we salute you because i know what farming entails in the 24th century in terms of human and financial resources. Let me congratulate the new excos of OSACA who are being sworn in today for coming at the right time, a time when we have a forward thinking Governor, His Excellency Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa”.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa has committed in no small measure a lot of resources to the development of agriculture and promotion of food sufficiency in Ondo state. It is worthy of note that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has initiated and delivered several agricultural programs, projects and policies in line with the renewed hope agenda of the President of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR”. he stated
“Recently, the state government contributed 1,200 metric tons of grains as palliative to farmers in the state to address the rising cost of food prices and I’m sure your association OSACA was part of the beneficiaries.
He said government has embarked on construction and rehabilitation of rural roads for easy mobility of farm produce for local consumption.
“Recognizing the importance of access roads to farmers, our government has embarked on massive construction and rehabilitation of rural access roads in communities through the rural access mobility project RAMP among many other laudable agricultural interventions”.
“The primary responsibility of government is the provision of security to the people and this government have been responsible for it. You also highlighted the initiatives of the government to ensure the safety and security of farmers in the state.”
The newly inaugurated chairman of OSACA, Chief Abiodun Adejo who took the baton from the immediate past chairman, Mr Gbenga Obaweya said more will be done to actively involve the association in formulation of government policies to boost agriculture and food security.
“The government is looking up to us to coordinate and mobilize farmers and agropreneurs to transform the agricultural sector of the state to increase production, lower the current high pricing of agricultural products and to leverage on the use of technology to boost production”.
” We must position our association to be actively involved in formulation of government policies to boost agriculture and food security”.
Representatives of SMEDAN, bank of Industry, cocoa council association of Nigeria and other affiliate bodies emphasized on unity to achieve the needed success for all farmers in the state.