Agricultural Revolution: Our Target Are The Youths, Reason For Transforming Farm Settlements To Estates —Comm For Agriculture
By Henry Odeh
The Oyo state honorable commissioner for agriculture and rural development, Hon. Ojemuyiwa Jacob Ojekunle has declared that one of the key factors that influenced the state government decision to transform farm settlements into farm estates is to make agribusiness very attractive to the youths most especially the thousands of young university and polytechnic graduates who are searching for white collar jobs that are not available.
Hon. Ojemuyiwa stated this yesterday in his office while having media chat with pressmen in Ibadan, he added further that government is working on providing social amenities at the various farm estates such as recreational parks and gardens, football pitches, connecting rural urban roads, adequate electricity and security so that the urge for rural urban migration would be curbed.
He said that the era of farming with cutlass and hoe are gone adding that Oyo state is transforming into mechanized farming noting that agricultural development remains one of the quick wins for the state with its abundant potentials.
He added that big time investors are already in town to spend their money in support of the ongoing agricultural revolution in the state noting that Oyo state government has removed all unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks causing impediments to farmers trying to access government financial supports.
He said “Last week Friday we were at Akufo and Eruwa farm settlements to ascertain what is on ground, the various farm settlements have been in existence for long but have not been properly utilized, governor Makinde in his foresight has seen the great potentials of transforming the settlements into farm estates to attract youths especially our young graduates with a view of generating employment, provide food security, and increase the internally generated revenue of the state.”
“We also plan to situate leasing houses at various farm estates so that whatever you want as a farmer you get it directly from the leasing house, if you want machines for plowing you get it, if you want the one for weeding you get it, even those who will buy your farm produce from you after harvest are here so the issue of market has been taking care of, it may interest you to know that even the houses in the farm estates will be owned by the farmers afterwards because our plan is for the farmers to own the houses they live in not rent them.”
Hon. Ojemuyiwa however expressed satisfaction with the level of determination and commitment from governor Seyi Makinde describing him as a human computer who seems to know everything in all sectors of the economy. He therefore, enjoined everyone to avail themselves of the many opportunities the state government is rolling out through the agricultural revolution in the state.
