The Oyo State Government has begun the third phase of the distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers in the state with the distribution of two bags of 50kg feeds and two bottles of disinfectant to 1,000 pig farmers.
The phase will also witness the free vaccination of at least 120,000 cattle with anthrax vaccine and CBPP vaccine, while another 250,000 cattle, goat and sheep will also be vaccinated by the state government.
Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said this in Ajaawa, Ogo Oluwa Local Government, on Wednesday, during the flag-off of the third phase of the farm inputs distribution to farmers in the state.
He added that 1,000 sheep and goat farmers across the state will equally receive two bags of 50kg wheat offal each.
The effort, he noted, is in continuation of measures introduced by Governor ‘Seyi Makinde under the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) initiative to cushion the effect of economic hardship on residents of the state.
At the event held at the Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Secretariat, Ajaawa, Olaleye, who also doubles as the chairman, SAfER Food Security Sub-Committee, recalled that thousands of poultry and fishery farmers in the state had benefited in the first and second phases of the inputs distribution exercise.
He lauded the state governor for sustaining agricultural activities in the state through the SAfER initiative, adding that the initiative, which targets crop, poultry, fishery and livestock farmers, is aimed at supporting small and medium scale so as to relieve them of the current economic hardship.
Olaleye said: “We are flagging off the third phase of SAfER interventions for the food security sub-sector with the distribution of feeds and disinfectants to pig farmers across Oyo State.
“Here, 1,000 pig farmers will benefit from the distribution we are doing at the moment. They will get two bags of 50kg of PKC each with two bottles of disinfectant.
“120,000 cattle will also be vaccinated with anthrax vaccine and CBPP Vaccine, 250,000 cattle across the state will also benefit from free vaccination of anthrax vaccine. We are going to give out two bags of 50kg wheat offal feeds each to 1,000 sheep and goat farmers as well.
“This is just the beginning of the exercise and it will go across all the local government areas we have in the state.
“It is part of the SAfER initiative introduced by Governor Makinde. In the next few days, we will proceed to the stage of giving seed, cassava cottons, herbicides and knapsack sprayers to crop farmers across the state.
“The programme is aimed at reducing the cost of food in Oyo State and I want to assure you that by the next harvest season, you will see that prices of goods and food would have gone down.”
The commissioner added that the initiative, apart from relieving farmers of the present economic hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal, will also improve feed quality and quantity for livestock production so as to grow the economy.
The commissioner added that as part of efforts to support farmers in the state, the governor recently pronounced a N600 million subsidy on land clearing, which will see farmers pay only N15,000 per hectare instead of N30,000 being charged earlier.
He noted that the governor had equally waived tax payment on farm produce transport within the state, urging farmers to show fidelity to the government by reflecting the support they received from the government in the pricing of food stuff in the coming months.
“I would like to urge the farmers to be faithful with the government and to also support our people. If they are getting free things from the government, they should also ensure they reduce the prices of goods in a corresponding manner as well.
“Don’t forget that the government has given out 400kg of maize to 2,600 poultry farmers and we have given out to 1,000 fish farmers as well.
“The governor has said that for the next six months, no farmer should pay tax on farm produce in the state. And he has promised to support farmers with 50 per cent payment on the tractor used on their farmlands.
“We have also given out a N1bn loan to farmers and the government is ready to do more for the farmers in the state.”
In their separate goodwill messages, the Member representing Ogo Oluwa State Constituency, Honourable Abideen Adeoye and the chairman, Ogo Oluwa Local Government, Mr. Oluwaseun Ojo, expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde for taking the SAfER initiative to the grassroots.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs Christianah Abioye, commended the state government for the continuous exercise and support to the farmers to improve their businesses.
She urged the beneficiaries to complement the effort of the state government by making good use of the interventions.
Also in his remarks, the chairman, Piggery Farmers Association, Mr Tope Oye-Alamu, expressed gratitude to the state government for the inclusion of pig farmers as beneficiaries of the state government initiative, noting that his sector had never benefited from such effort before.
Also speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Mary Adebayo, a pig farmer in Ogo Oluwa Local Government, appreciated the gesture of the state government.