Governor Makinde Takes Action to Support Food Security in Oyo State

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has announced a series of measures aimed at supporting food security in the state.

The move comes in response to concerns over rising food prices despite the increase in food production.

During a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agriculture Credit Corporation of Oyo State (ACCOS), and the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, Governor Makinde declared that the government will subsidize land clearing for farmers with an initial sum of N600 million.

Under this new initiative, farmers will now only have to pay N15,000 for land clearing, with the government covering the remaining cost.

Additionally, the state has disbursed N1 billion to smallholder farmers through the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAER) program.

Furthermore, the ACCOS loan support for farmers will no longer require a civil servant as a guarantor, as farm associations will now be responsible for guaranteeing their members’ access to the loan.

Governor Makinde acknowledged the progress made in terms of food production in the state but noted that more needs to be done to address the issue of rising food prices.

He emphasized that the measures being taken by the government are not just talk, but concrete actions to tackle the problem.

In a bold move to further support food security, Governor Makinde announced that for the next six months, no revenue will be collected on agricultural produce marketed within the state.

This decision is aimed at reducing the burden on farmers and ultimately lowering the cost of food for consumers.

With these actions, Governor Makinde hopes to effectively address the issue of food security in Oyo State and ensure that the state’s agricultural sector continues to thrive.