(http://www.ogunstate.gov.ng/images/stories/agric%20minister.jpg)Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has lamented the whopping 1.3 trillion Naira being spent yearly on importation of wheat, rice, sugar and fish when the country is in a position to produce these food items in abundance.
The governor spoke yesterday in Abeokuta while declaring open the 40th National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development, which has as its theme, "From Farm To Table, Developing Agriculture Value Chains To Create Wealth and Jobs and Assure National Food Security."
He explained that food importation had done considerable harm to the economy of Nigeria, noting that the practice "fuels domestic inflation, displaces local production and creates unemployment." Amosun, according to a statement by his media aide, Funmi Wakama, said Ogun had taken the bull by the horns by making over 20,000 hectares of land available to willing investors at minimal cost.
The state helmsman informed the audience that his government had purchased land clearing and preparation equipment which had been made available to farmers at highly subsidized rental rate in order to encourage mechanised agriculture.
Model Farm Estate equipped with modern conveniences, he explained, had been resuscitated with the Owowo Farm Estate being the first.
"On completion, the Model Farm Estate, the pilot project, will provide direct employment to over 300 participants and offer indirect employment to about 2,000 workers working on different aspects of farming ranging from egg production, fresh and smoked fish production, arable crops, orchard, fruits and leafy vegetables. The Model Estate will be surrounded by networks of commercial farms on over 2,000 hectares of agricultural land," the governor said.
Amosun commended Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina for the tremendous progress witnessed in the agriculture sector since his assumption of office as minister and Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Ronke Sokefun, for a job well done.
Via: Ogun State Government - Official Press Release