The Ogun State Government in collaboration with a private company, Caterina De Medici Project has concluded arrangements to cultivate a thousand hectare land in different parts of the State for cassava production.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun, who disclosed this while inspecting a 15 hectare part of the land located in Ibara community, Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the State, indicated that the collaboration was another intervention to increase agricultural production and encourage women farmers, said the pilot would be a 100 hectare land.
The Commissioner, represented by the Director, Cassava Revolution in the Ministry, Mr. Gbile Olugbebi said the project to be executed in phases had started with a 100 hectare pilot, adding that another 45 hectares was to be at Ilara, Imeko – Afon local Government, while the location for the remaining 40 hectares is yet to be decided.
She said each beneficiary would be given an allocation of land free of charge and provided with necessary inputs, assuring that there is a ready market for the cassava to be produced.
“We are not just encouraging you to work, but we are assuring you that your efforts will not just be lying waiting for customers because we have made arrangements with the manufacturing company that will purchase the cassava immediately after harvest” She affirmed.
The Commissioner therefore enjoined interested women farmers in the respective location to buy into the programme in order to reap benefits and improve their living standard, maintaining that government’s commitment to transforming the State into the nation’s food basket remained unwavering.
In a remark, leader of the women cassava farmers in the community, Talatu Audu expressed appreciation to the State Government for the gesture, describing it as life-changing.
She assured that more women would turn up and seize the opportunity of the free land and inputs to make their modest contributions to efforts on increasing agricultural production.
Ogun in Partnership to Empower Women Cassava Farmers Press Release
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