Agriculture in Osun state, for some time now, has been more on paper than reality. While Osun is well known as an agrarian state, past negligence and dearth of meaningful investments in essential equipment and implements left agriculture in the state almost lifeless.
Before now, agriculture in Osun was a mere rhetoric as policy and interventions in the sector were so insufficient to make any impact. It was so bad that in 2020, a meagre N6,992,500.00 was the aggregated amount spent on the sector by the end of the third quarter, reflecting the terrible fate that the sector endured under previous administrations.ĺĺ
Upon assuming office in November 2022, Governor Ademola Adeleke radiated hope that it would no longer be business as usual, but encapsulated a 5-point agenda. Less than two years in office, we can all see the manifestation going by the remarkable delivery of services across sectors. The last time Osun experienced this sort of investment in agriculture as reflected in the acquisition of new tractors was under the administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. This sounds unbelievable, but that was how it were under previous administrations.
In 2020 to be precise, the Osun state chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) highlighted the extent of neglect agriculture was subjected to when it declared that there was no tractor in the state to aid farming operation. Alhaji Sulaimon Araokanmi, who chaired Osun state AFAN then said, “We also asked the government to provide tractors for us because there is no tractor in the whole state that farmers can use to cultivate.”
Apparently, the Oyetola administration did nothing about their request all through his tenure as no single tractor was purchased, nor was any other serious effort made to aid agriculture and ramp up food production. This clearly explains the decline in agricultural activities and damage to the state’s food security.
This informed the new tractors bought by his administration to improve farming activities in the state. Unveiling the new tractors recently, Governor Adeleke left no one in doubt that Osun is poised to leverage the agriculture potential of the state for food production.
“Today, we are distributing 6,000 herbicides, 80,000 cashew seedlings, 8,000 cassava cuttings, 8,000 various vegetable seeds and 500 bags of lime to our farmers, women associations, people living with disabilities and government schools with large farmlands.”
I’ve seen some opposition elements trying to diminish the extent of the intervention by cross-referencing numbers; however, the mistake they are making is that they fail to appreciate the monumental impact of not doing anything in the past. They should be concerned that throughout the 12 years they held sway in the state, they were unable to buy a single tractor to aid farming activities.
For Osun to translate its vast agricultural potential to feeding its population and generating wealth, it needs to adopt sustainable practices that ensure increased productivity. This understanding clearly reflects the decision of Governor Adeleke to acquire tractors, which will not only boost productivity on our farms but also support the health of our farmers.
Governor Adeleke and his team carefully assessed the needs of the agriculture sector and came up with interventions that answer those needs. Before now, farmers in Osun state are left to their fate, going through the most challenging experience to cultivate their farms. This unfair treatment not only limited their output capacity, but also weighed on their health, contributing to dwindling interest in farming and the attendant drop in food production.
All that is about to change with the intervention of Governor Adeleke. The good thing about the new tractors procured is that it is multiple-purpose. Apart from the general use of clearing lands and ploughing at incredible rate, the new machines can also transport farm outputs. Beyond tractors, Governor Adeleke would be supplying farmers with implements which include improved seedings and bolstering the prospect of bountiful yields at the point harvest. Through partnership with the federal government, thousands of bags of fertilisers would be distributed to farmers in the state.
To cap it all, Adeleke’s administration has provided a lump sum of N8.6m to each of the poultry farmers participating in the Osun Broiler Outgrower Production Scheme (OBOPS which according to the commissioner for agriculture and food security, Otunba Tola Faseru would allow them to raise 2,000 day-old broiler birds to table size within six weeks and the cycle would be repeated continuously and off-takers would buy back from each farmer.
He did not stop there as he went on to assure that the government will continue to support farmers’ group who are into food processing by empowering them with Agricultural asset like maize shelter, palm kernel cracker, smoking kiln, poultry cages, pens to encourage value addition.
Governor Adeleke is prepared to do everything necessary to turn the tide in the agriculture sector and ensure food security for the people, just as he has breathe life to the sector in Osun state, and the people will reap bountifully from it.
Sarafa is the special assistant to Osun state governor on print media.