The Oyo State Government has begun training its agricultural Extension Officers and Directors of Agriculture across all local government areas on farmers booking applications in fulfilment of its pledge to subsidise 50 per cent farmland cutting to enhance food security.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi, while declaring open the training at the House of Chiefs, Agodi, State Secretariat, said the training was in collaboration an organisation identified as Hello Tractor, adding that the training will help the beneficiaries on how to use the application to register the details of farmers such as their local government, farm location and the coordinate of their farmlands.
The Commissioner added that the application would enable the government to have the details of farmers in the state, reiterating that the application would help in knowing the acres of land to be cultivated, the types of crops and the size of land farmers wish to invest in, as this would enable the Government to come to their aid.
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According, to him, Oyo State Government is training the participants on farmers’ booking applications, this will help the government to know the details of the farmers such as the size of the farm, crop type and more.
He stated further that the application will equally reveal the location of the farm right from the Office and will also help in monitoring the activities of the Agric Extension Officers across the 33 local governments.
The Commissioner explained that the present government in the state would leave no stone unturned to ensure farmers are encouraged through various support by eliminating their sufferings, stressing that this would enhance food security in the state.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Christianah Abioye urged the participants to pay rapt attention to the training, saying that after their retirement, they can as well be an agents to the Hello Tractors Organization.
While encouraging farmers on the need to take proper coordinate of farmers’ farmland, the General Manager, Agricultural Credit Cooperation of Oyo State, Comrade Ogundiran said the training coincided with the planting season in which farmers would need more funds to clear land for farming and thanked the government for being proactive in ensuring food security in the state.
In her address, the Team Lead and facilitator, Hello Tractor Organisation Ltd, Miss Blessing Agu, commended the Oyo State government for its various ongoing efforts in supporting framers in the state, saying that farmers are facing many challenges, according to her, has drastically reduced food production in the country and Oyo State at large.
TheWitness
