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Ogun State House of Assembly has thrown its weight behind the operations of the Federal Government sponsored Anchor Borrowers Programme in the State, describing it as a legacy project that will boost farmers' productivity towards achieving increased food security in the nation.
Members of the State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Forestry led by Hon. Sylvester Abiodun, who was represented by his vice, Hon. Yusuf Adejojo stated this while conducting an on-the-spot assessment
to plantations at Otete in Yewa North Local Government Area in company of the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, the Anchor Borrowers' Programme (ABP) Steering Committee with an assurance of more legislations towards sustaining the intervention programmes.
Recalling that the Assembly had earlier engaged the Commissioner on the benefits of the scheme, Abiodun expressed optimism that the scheme would increase value addition, hence the need to put in place legislative framework towards providing consumable agricultural produce and raw materials to further position the State as a leading entity in food production among the comity of States.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Odedina said the Prince Dapo Abiodun led- administration expected optimum performance from the beneficiaries, thus, organised supplementary training for all the 3, 500 farmers, who were selected through a transparent and all-inclusive system across the 20 Local Government Areas.
Assuring of supervision of the farmland, Odedina disclosed that 74 hectares of land were allotted to the 127 cassava farmers in various locations including Otete, Idagba, Igbogila, Sanwonjo and Imasayi In Yewa North with a projection of 40 tonnes per hectares as against the 25 tonnes expected from each beneficiary.
He noted that another Federal Government funded programme was underway to serve as a rewarding model for successful farmers, who are able to meet up with the expectations of the on-going programme.
In their respective remarks, the State Chairman, Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, Akinbode Adeneye, beneficiaries of the scheme, Kunle Fashola and Falana Adijat, lauded the application and selection processes for the programmes, saying it was an attestation of the transparency and inclusive policy of the present administration as beneficiaries were chosen across religion and ethnic backgrounds.
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