Osun sets stage for massive rice production
Osun State farmers, led by the grand patron of Agriculture Quick Impact Intervention Programme, Alhaji Araokanmi Sulaiman, addressing the Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and his entourage, during an interactive session on how to improve agriculture in the state, at the Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo.
The Osun State government is on the verge of becoming the hub for rice production in the Southwest, with its recent move to focus on rice cultivation, as part of its agricultural policies.
The governor, Rauf Aregbesola, his deputy, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, and other members of his team recently visited one of the major rice farms collaborating with the state government to produce Ofada Osun Rice.
If the partnership sails through, it is expected to break the country’s reliance on imported rice, generate more income for the state and also create job opportunities for the populace of the state, as people from every part of the country would be coming into the state Osun Rice.
The Guardian’s visit to one of the farms in Songbe borders, near Ogbagba in Iwo area of the state, attested to the drive. Though the rice has just been harvested, the plan is to cultivate 450 hectares mainly for rice in the next three weeks, for the new planting season.
The Guardian learnt that the move is part of the holistic agricultural policy of the state, which has placed it on the green map of the Southwest within the space of six years; making it one of the major suppliers of agricultural produce to markets in Lagos and other South Western states.
Executive Chairman of ajogbe group, Bosoye Olalere, who is partnering the state, said the target for the new planting season is to do a lot more than last year, noting that additional land has been acquired to achieve the dream.
While disclosing that youth, under the state modern agriculture techniques would be integrated into the system, where they would be given acres of land to cultivate and manage, he added that 35 workers are on the pay roll of the farm, noting that during harvest ad-hoc staff would be employed, as another way of creating employment for the people.
“The idea of the farm is to run an integrated farming system. There is a plan to build the processing plant, which is the second phase of the project for processing of rice paddy.
Related
Latest
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
3 Comments
Personally i believe that the State of Osun is undergoing the highest level of development in Nigeria. The desire of the state to reach a level of food sufficiency has to be commended. Osun, I hear is looking to grab about 10% of the daily food demands of the Lagos market. That figure stands at around 4Bn per day. If Osun can attain this, then truly this government would have outdone itself. The signs are there, it has to be said.
With the government in power and the rate of development in the State of Osun, i believe that this status can be attained as a result of the fact that the State of Osun has designed and is implementing the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Program also known as O-REAP and we all know that Agriculture has been the main stay of Osun’s economy over the decades, this will improve the governors profile and go ahead to develope the independence of Nigeria in the agricultural sector.
Agriculture in the State of Osun has gone past what it used to be. The State is now working towards ensuring food sufficiency in the south west. This latest effort should be commended by well-meaning person home and abroad. Ride-on the people’s Governor.
We will review and take appropriate action.