The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has unveiled his administration’s food security plan, just as he advocated national unity to resolve the current national economic crisis in the country.
Adeleke, who opened up on the extensive agenda of the state on food security and expanded food production, at the office of the Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, in Abuja, accompanied by his Commissioner for Agriculture, Tola Faseru said “these are emergency eras in the economic life of this nation.
“We therefore, have a duty to look and act beyond partisan politics and ensure collective efforts towards restoration of normalcy. A federation works best when component units join hands for common good.
“It is in that line that I am here today. The first reason is to brief you on what the Osun State government is doing on the issue of food security and ongoing economic challenges facing the nation.
“I am happy to report that the Osun government has been very proactive. First, we are setting up a State Security Trust Fund to mobilise financing for security agencies. This is going to be private sector driven.
“Secondly, I conveyed a food security meeting to brainstorm on how to further secure our farmlands. I have met representatives of Hunters association and the Amotekun commanders alongside the civil defense and police services. The goal is to strengthen farm security.
“Our administration is also working on Small Farmers’ Equipment Lending service. This is to ease the access of small scale farmers to tractors and other needed machineries. We are meeting this week to finalise the plan ahead of the onset of the rainy planting season.
“To expand food production, we are also pushing to implement a City to Farm programme. This was designed to encourage young small scale farmers. This will expand production and also engage our youth,” he said.
Governor Ademola said on a more general level, his administration recently unveiled a Cocoa Revival plan for the state. “It involves several activities which focus on moving Osun from third to first cocoa producer in Nigeria. We seek partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture on this.
“Our government is also interested in the livestock development programme. We have submitted our expression of interest, kindly help to facilitate early approval.
“The state is also interested in the Agro-processing zones project being implemented under the African Development Bank (AfDB). I hosted a delegation of the AfDB in Osun weeks ago. Your ministry’s support on this is also solicited….”
Responding, the minister commended the multi-partisan approach of the Governor to state governance, pledging to work on all the areas touched by the Governor.
He restated the determination of President Bola Tinubu to address the national economic challenges, informing the delegation that the meeting with the Governor was part of a broad plan to ensure immediate resolution of the current dislocations within the economy.
