The Ondo state Commissioner for Agriculture, Olayato Aribo, on Thursday, said the state government is taking bold steps to transform the agricultural sector and make it a key driver of the economy.
Aribo who stated this in Akure, Ondo state capital, during a programme organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for state government officials to give stewardship of their offices, said the state government is committed to revitalising agriculture in the state.
Aribo however, lamented over the non-availability of tractors for farmers in the state saying that has been one of the major challenges farmers are facing in the state.
According to him, the state government has sold out about 30 tractors purchased for farmers to aid food production during the tenure of late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to private individuals at subsidized rate.
Aribo said “As of today, we have one functional tractor working in the ministry. Unlike in the North, we have savanna, but here, tractors cannot enter the forest.
“We need bulldozer to clear the forest here. We intend to do a thorough job. We need bulldozers to remove all the trees and stumps.
“That is why we need an equipment hiring company. We have discussed and agreed. Every farmer knows the cost of tractorisation per hectare. We promise a 25 per cent discount.
He denied that ” I am not aware of any tractor parked in Government House. During the administration of Governor Akeredolu, we bought 30 tractors.
“These tractors were sold to companies and individuals at subsidised rate. Most of those tractors are outside this state. These tractors are no longer owned by the government.
“Some people bought them. Some are paying gradually. It is the only one owned by the state now. We will still buy, but we should start immediately by engaging a company to start for us. We are in a hurry to produce food.”
Speaking on the efforts of the state to ensure food security, Aribo said the state government has trained extension workers on agribusiness while 4,563 youth and women have also been empowered with agriculture inputs.
He said the state government has established a Thursday market to sell the products directly to consumers at a reduced price to ease the hunger in the state.
He said over 30 feeder roads had been constructed to make transportation of farm products from the rural communities, while over 10,000 high-breed cocoa had been purchased and distributed to farmers at a subsidized rate.
Aribo disclosed that the state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa had approved the sum of N1b to buy staple foods to be sold to the citizens at a subsidized rate.
He said this was planned to reduce prices of food commodities in the markets and alleviate the hunger in the land and cushion the effects of hardship
Also, speaking, the Senior Special Adviser to the government on Works and Infrastructure, Pastor Ayoade Babalola said Governor Aiyedatiwa inherited 402 ongoing contracts from his predecessor out of which 265 kilometres have been tarred.
According to him, about 137 road projects are ongoing in different parts of the state to enhance trade and commerce.
