SEQUEL to President Bola Tinubu’s meeting with state governors, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Osun State governor, has rolled out plans to tackle food insecurity in the state.
The Governor accompanied by Tola Faseru his Commissioner for Agriculture and others paid a visit to Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
He opened up on the extensive agenda of the state government on food security and expanded food production, stating that these are emergency eras in the economic life of this nation.
“We, therefore, have a duty to look and act beyond partisan politics and ensure collective efforts towards restoration of normalcy. A federation works best when component units join hands for common good”. The governor told the minister.
“It is in that line that I am here today. The first reason is to brief you on what the Osun state government is doing on the issue of food security and ongoing economic challenges facing the nation.
“Mr President briefed the state governors on the state of the nation. He outlined several steps state governors should take to stem the crisis of food security and inflation.
“I am happy to report that the Osun government has been very proactive. First, we are setting up a state security trust fund to mobilise funds for security agencies. This is going to be private-sector driven.
“Secondly, I have conveyed a food security meeting to brainstorm on how to further secure our farmlands. I will be meeting representatives of Hunters Association and the Amotekun commanders alongside the civil defence and police services. The goal is to strengthen farm security.”
Adeleke, also said that his administration is also working on small farmers’ equipment lending service. This according to him is to ease the access of small scale farmers to tractors and other needed machineries.
“To expand food production, we are also pushing to implement a city to farm programme. This was designed to encourage young small scale farmers. This will expand production and also engage our youths.
“This is alongside our plans for a regional farmers’ markets where off takers can meet farmers for exchange and market relationship. We need your technical support to implement many of the listed areas.
“Our administration recently unveiled a Cocoa revival plan for the state. It involves several activities which focus on moving Osun from third to first cocoa producer in Nigeria. We seek partnership with the federal Ministry of Agriculture on this.
“Our government is also interested in the livestock development programme. We have submitted our expression of interest. Kindly help to facilitate early approval.
“The state is also interested in the agro-processing zones project being implemented under the African Development Bank. I hosted a delegation of the AfDB in Osun two weeks ago. Your ministry’s support on this is also solicited,” he added.
Senator Abubakar Kyari while responding commended the multi-partisan approach of the Governor to state governance, pledging to work on all the areas touched by the Governor.
He restated the determination of President Tinubu to address the national economic challenges, informing the delegation that the meeting with the Governor was part of a broad plan to ensure immediate resolution of the current dislocations within the economy.
While describing the state governments as key partners in national economic development, the minister expressed happiness on the proactive measures listed by the Governor and assured him of federal support and assistance.
