Ogun Prepare Hectares Of Land To Anchor Borrower's Beneficiaries For Casava Production

Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo 

Abeokuta - Hectres of land have been prepared by the Ogun state government for the beneficiaries of the Anchor Borrowers programme for cassava production.

The gesture, according to the  Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Samson Adeola Odedina was to reduce unemployment to the  barest minimum, link youths to agriculture opportunity to make living and provide food security to the youths in Ogun State.

Odedina who hinted that each beneficiary would be entitled to one hectre of land added that another focus of the state government was to train competent farmers that would tackle the challenges in the agric industry.

The Agriculturist, the former Rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) while monitoring the land alongside some top officials at the ministry in Apojola village in Odeda Local government of the state pledged that state government would link up the farmers with buyers immediately after harvest, provide loans to implement their plans. 

"The government of Prince Dapo Abiodun is ready to link up farmers and unemployed youths to land input to reduce unemployment drastically and be on top of food security. We shall be building farmers to meet the challenges of the industry".

Asked whether the gesture in mainly for the educated youths in the state, the Commissioner noted that it would as well be extended to other existing farmers to make it a win-win.

His words "The are 40 cassaver processors who have shown interest they will also be engaged and will be a win-win thing".

The Chairman, Steering Committee of the Ministry, Processor Bola Okuneye while speaking to journalists stressed that the state government has envisioned to extend the land to 7,000 hectares to accommodate more people.

Dr Angel Adelaja Kuye, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Agriculture also said further that the youth should engage in agriculture to secure job opportunity as a means of employment mist especially when we have closure of land borders and coronavirus pandemic in the country.