FG Reaffirms Commitment To Food Security With Agricultural Empowerment Program

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to enhancing food security and boosting the agricultural sector through mechanized farming and strategic empowerment initiatives. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority (O-ORBDA), Dr. Adedeji Ashiru, made this known on Friday while unveiling the agency’s plans to support agriculture across the country.

Ashiru revealed that the agency had procured 25 tractors to promote mechanized agriculture and would be constructing 83 additional infrastructures, developing small-scale irrigation schemes, and implementing water-smart irrigation systems in 2025.

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FG’s Agricultural Initiatives to Tackle Food Insecurity

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony for a training and empowerment program in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, Ashiru emphasized President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to tackling hunger and ensuring food sufficiency. He noted that the empowerment program was designed to equip 900 men, women, and youths with the necessary tools, training, and financial support to thrive in agribusiness.

According to him, the initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s Eight-Point Agenda, which prioritizes food security, job creation, poverty eradication, economic growth, and infrastructural development.

Breakdown of the Agricultural Empowerment Program

Ashiru outlined the various training and empowerment components, highlighting how beneficiaries will receive essential tools and support in different areas of agribusiness:

• Backyard Farming: 100 women and youths will be trained and provided with power tillers, power sprayers, high-yield vegetable seeds, fertilizers, and protective gear.
• Agricultural Value Chain Development: Another 100 individuals will be trained in fruit juice, zobo juice, and tiger nut drink production. Participants will receive equipment such as chest freezers, commercial grinders/blenders, and professional juice extractors.
• Entrepreneurial Agriculture: 100 people will undergo training in modern agribusiness strategies, digital literacy, and financial management skills. Each participant will receive an Android Z65 Tablet Pro to support digital literacy.
• Vocational Empowerment: 300 participants will receive complete modern sewing machines, while another 300 will receive grinding machines. Each beneficiary will also receive seed capital to establish their businesses.

Expansion of Irrigation and Mechanized Farming in 2025

In a bid to promote all-year-round farming, the agency has launched the 2025 Dry Season Irrigation Project, which includes the construction of 12 earth dams and 21 modern irrigation facilities across the Southwest region.

Additionally, the government has procured 25 tractors to further mechanized agriculture, with plans in 2025 to develop more infrastructures, enhance small-scale irrigation schemes, and introduce water-smart irrigation systems.

Encouraging Beneficiaries to Utilize Resources

Dr. Ashiru expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his visionary leadership aimed at strengthening food security. He urged beneficiaries to maximize the training and resources provided to improve their livelihoods and contribute to national food production.

As Nigeria continues to tackle food insecurity and economic challenges, initiatives like this highlight the government’s efforts to empower citizens, enhance agricultural productivity, and drive sustainable development in the sector.