Ogun State Government says it is ready to provide an enabling environment for the establishment of agro-based industries to use agricultural products for which it has comparative advantage. Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun made this disclosure today in Abeokuta at the flag off of the annual National Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Workshop with the theme “Donor Project in the Implementation of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda” Mrs. Sokefun who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Lanre Bisiriyu, expressed optimism that this effort would reduce unemployment and create job security, ensure development of value chains for staple crops as well as wealth creation.“The goal of this administration is to transform the agricultural sector to mitigate hunger and poverty in the land, boost the industrial base of Ogun State and reposition agriculture as the mainstay of the State” Sokefun remarked . Speaking further, she said “we strongly believe that the provision of adequate infrastructure, appropriate agro input, vibrant agricultural extension delivery services, credit facilities and incentives could improve the level of agricultural production and well being of our citizens’’. The Commissioner added that Government had also embarked on massive rehabilitation of rural and urban road network to enhance evacuation of farm produce and ensured prompt payment of stipulated counterpart funds for bilateral funded agricultural projects.She called on Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs) to beef up their knowledge and skills in executing their functions of planning, monitoring and evaluation cells to drive the management of projects and programmes as well as track the key performance indicators of interventions aimed at improving food security, wealth creation, employment generation and attainment of household nutrition and self sufficiency. In his address, Director, Federal Department of Rural Development, Alhaji Olumuyiwa Azeez stated that the agricultural transformation agenda of the central government was meant to modernize the agricultural sector, raise productivity, develop modern food supply chains, accelerate food processing and value addition. He identified steps taken in this direction to include the deregulation of seed and fertilizer sub-sectors, marketing reforms, innovative financing for agriculture and a new agriculture investment framework. Welcoming participants earlier, Programme Manager, Ogun State Agricultural Development Progamme (OGADEP), Mr. Ibikunle Onasanya lauded the fresh injection of support from the State Government which included procurement of motorcycles with crash helmets, insurance scheme for extension agents, upward review of operational funds to the ADP and sustainability of the Root and Timber Expansion Programme (RTEP) among others.
Via: Ogun State Government - Official Press Release