Ogun will pioneer FG’s agric programme, minister pledges

• U.S. to partner state on infrastructure, ICT, others

Ogun State is to serve as a pioneer in the South-West for the Federal Government’s mechanisation programme for the production of cocoa and rice in the country.

Minister for Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Sabo Nanono, stated during a courtesy visit to Governor Dapo Abiodun in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.He said: “Ogun is one of the states in the South-West that we have interest on in two vital areas of cocoa, rice production and also in agricultural mechanization, which is going to affect 632 local councils as across the country.

“We will consider Ogun as one of the states that will be the pioneer in the South-West.Nanono, who regretted that Nigeria was still planting cocoa that takes more than seven years to yield, while her neighbours have developed through the assistance of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) fund and new varieties of cocoa that yield in less than three years, said that it was time to embrace the new methods.He said the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) had come up with a package of developing new varieties of palm oil in Calabar and cocoa in Ondo State, noting that the Federal Government was still discussing with FAO to chart a new way forward.

“We are going to the make the programme on cocoa a national and not a state issue.”Abiodun said the choice of the state to pioneer the Federal Government programme on agriculture in the South-West was a signature to the agricultural policy of his administration, which was aimed at ensuring food security and a source of employment.He said the state had potentials for the cultivation of food and cash crops, including cocoa, cotton and palm oil, among others.

Abiodun, therefore, promised to support the Federal Government towards the successful implementation of the new programme. Meanwhile, the United States (U.S.) Consul-General to Nigeria, Claire Pienangelo, has lauded the Ogun State government for providing a level playing ground for both local and foreign investors to thrive in the state.Pienangelo also promised to help bring American investors to do business in the state.

The consul-general, who spoke in an interview after a meeting with the state governor in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, commended the state for having “a good attitude” by welcoming both foreign and local investors with open arms.