Ogun Budget Performance : Agric Ministry Surpasses Benchmark Proposes N3. 310B For 2021

Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture has proposed a budget of N3.310b, just as it exceeded the N120m revenue benchmark for the current year.

Commissioner in the Ministry, Dr. Adeola Odedina made the disclosure at the on-going Treasury Board meeting on 2021-2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and 2021 Budget, at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

According to Odedina,”As at October 2020, we have exceeded the revenue by N8m and we believe that by December this year, we will have surpassed the expected revenue by far. The Agricultural agenda of Ogun State is based on five pillars, which include Support for small holder farmers, Food Security, Job creation, Industralisation and Nutrition”.

He added that his Ministry would continue to engage the private sector, assist them to apply best practices and expand its mandate of strategic partnership with national and international agencies, with a view to linking more farmers to agricultural opportunities.

The Commissioner, disclosed that the Ministry intends to purchase tractors, as it did not purchase any this year, but was able to clear lands through Public Private Partnership, adding that it would leverage on the expertise of the private sector in the purchase of agricultural equipment, while all the linkage programmes was based on the assurance that the State would provide necessary infrastructure.

The Commissioner who recalled that the successes in the areas of Cassava, Rice and Poultry production, among others would be extended to the cultivation of Cocoa, Coffee and Cotton, appreciated the Governor for his support and encouragement.

Speaking , the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun urged the Commissioner and the entire Agric team not to rest on their oars, advising that they should leverage on the State’s proximity to Lagos and other West Africa countries to further expand agricultural opportunities in the State.

He also tasked them to ensure that the Broilers’ Project, which had successfully empowered 54 youths in Odeda be extended to other Local Government Areas.