Ogun Currently Seeking to Displace Benue State As Nigeria's Food Basket

The South-Western state of Ogun is now reportedly seeking to overthrow Benue State to become the food basket of the nation.

File photo: A food market

 

A report by Punch Metro shows that the Ogun State Government has revealed that it has embarked on many agricultural projects that will make the state self-sufficient,  adding it aims to become the food basket of the nation.Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Adepeju Adebajo, said this during a press briefing to commemorate the 2017 World Food Day’ with the theme ‘Change the Future of Migration, Invest in Food Security and Rural Development.’

 

Adebajo who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Steve Ipiniwa, said most of the projects sited at various parts of the state and mostly in agrarian communities would not only stop rural-urban migration but also provide employment opportunities for youths.

 

Some of the farm projects which she called ‘’Special Intervention Projects’’ included the 320 hectares Rice Revolution Programme in Eggua, Yewa North, Onigbedu and Itori in Ewekoro Local Government Areas of the state.

 

Adebajo added that harvesting had commenced at the rice plantation with purchase and installation of four rice mill equipment of different capacities for processing rice paddy.

 

The Commissioner said the other projects embarked upon included 2,000 hectares of cassava revolution project at Owowo, and poultry revolution project at Odeda, with the construction of six poultry pens of 10,000 capacity each.

 

She also listed fishery revolution project with construction of 1,000 earthen pounds at Odeda, Ikenne and Imasai.

 

She called on concerned communities to protect them and take ownership of the projects, urging the youths to take full advantage and improve on their agricultural skills, as days of seeking for white collar jobs were over.