JUST IN: Makinde Inspects Akufo Farm Settlement, Promises To Make Agribusiness Economic Mainstay

By Henry Odeh

The executive governor of Oyo state, Engr Seyi Makinde on Monday said his government was making frantic efforts to make commercial agriculture the mainstay of the state’s economy adding that the idea was what informed the decision to upgrade Akufo farm settlement to Agricultural Estate.

The Governor stated this while speaking with journalists shortly after the inspection tour of the facility along Ibadan Eruwa road, Ibadan.

The Governor said that Oyo state government was not relenting in aggregating all comparative advantages in agriculture to advance the state in line with the four cardinal thrust of his government.

Governor Makinde further explained that although, a private farm has been using the facility to produce tomato and pepper through a green house farming approach, but the state government would incorporate other stake holders to harness benefit for the local market and export.

Recall that Oyo state government had before last Christmas approached the state house of assembly to seek approval for assessment of N7.6b (seven billion six hundred million naira) to enable it upgrade farm settlements in Ido and Eruwa into farm estates in its drive for Agricultural revolution aimed at achieving food security and employment generation for the teeming unemployed populace in the state.

It is however believed that the governor’s inspection tour on Monday was a follow up to enable it appraise the true state of things before deployment of resources to activate its plans.