Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun on Friday distributed farm inputs, equipment and digital devices to support 10,000 rice and cassava farmers in the state.

The distribution was held during the 2026 World Food Day celebration held in Abeokuta, with the theme: “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow.”

​The initiative was implemented in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme.

He said the initiative was aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, reducing production costs and strengthening food security.

He disclosed that items to be distributed include subsidised fertilisers, herbicides, improved planting materials, 10 tractors, other agricultural equipment, and 1,200 android phones.

“Under the programme, 2,000 rice farmers and 8,000 cassava farmers will receive two bags of fertiliser and one bag of urea each.

“The cassava farmers will also receive 25 bundles of cassava stems each, while rice farmers will get three litres of herbicides and cassava farmers, 10 litres each.

“Farmers will also be given 1,200 android phones, which are already equipped with applications providing weather information, market prices and guidance on improved farming practices,” he said.

He said the devices would enable farmers to access timely information, make informed production decisions and improve their links to agricultural markets.

Abiodun said that the 10 tractors, 20 rice planters, and transplanters, eight threshers, and farm tricycle trailers and other equipment would support farm settlements and farmers’ associations across the state

He added that it would promote mechanised farming to reduce the burden of manual labour.

The governor noted that his administration is committed to transforming agriculture into a profitable, technology-driven sector capable of creating jobs, attracting investment and contributing to national food security.

“We established the Ogun State Agricultural Land Management Agency (OSALMA) to facilitate access to land and promote a responsible and inclusive framework for land-intensive agricultural investment,” he said.

He disclosed that his administration had completed 28 agricultural projects in the last two years across crop production, aquaculture and poultry.

He said the projects included solar dryers, warehouses, cassava processing centres and a poultry processing plant at Ajegunle Farm Settlement in Odeda Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the poultry facility can process 5,000 birds daily, equivalent to about 1.3 million birds annually.

Abiodun said the state had also procured 39 tractors, four self-propelled harvesters and other agricultural equipment to improve mechanisation.

On youth empowerment, he said more than 200 young people had received training in soilless farming through a partnership with Soilless Farm Lab.

He added that start-up support had also been provided to help the beneficiaries establish their own agricultural businesses.

“Our goal is to process more locally, retain greater value and create more jobs. We seek partnerships that create jobs, transfer knowledge, empower farmers and develop local capacity,” he said.

Abiodun urged investors to explore opportunities in commercial farming, agro-processing, livestock production, aquaculture, irrigation, mechanisation, storage and cold-chain facilities.

He assured investors of the state government’s readiness to support responsible agricultural investments.

The governor commended President Bola Tinubu for his efforts to strengthen local fertiliser production and improve farmers’ access to agricultural inputs.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, to initiatives supporting women farmers.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Bolu Owotomo, said the World Food Day highlighted the importance of access to nutritious and affordable food to human dignity and sustainable development.

Owotomo said innovation was essential to building a resilient food system and called for increased investment in women and young people through access to land, finance, training and technology.

He disclosed that more than 12,000 farmers had benefited from training and agricultural inputs under Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP).

The commissioner said the latest interventions focused on digital empowerment, mechanisation and subsidised farm inputs for 2,000 rice farmers and 8,000 cassava farmers.

“Beneficiaries will contribute 30 per cent of the cost of the inputs, depending on the category, while the government will cover the remaining 70 per cent through its partnership with IFAD,” he said

In his keynote address, Prof. Kolawole Adebayo, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said Ogun was strategically positioned to contribute to Nigeria’s food security because of its agricultural potential and proximity to major consumer markets.

Adebayo said the state’s 1.2 million hectares of arable land offered significant opportunities for agro-industrial investment.

He called for an integrated transportation network linking rail, road, water and air transport to facilitate the movement of agricultural produce, preserve quality and reduce post-harvest losses.

He commended the state government for developing agro-industrial processing zones, improving land-clearing services for smallholder farmers and expanding access to agricultural inputs.

Adebayo also identified the Farmer Information Management System and the establishment of the Nigerian Food Bank in Ogun as initiatives capable of strengthening food security.

Dr Kabiru Yusuf, the National Programme Coordinator of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme, commended the governor for supporting the agricultural sector.

Yusuf, represented by the National Agriculture Expert, Dr Louis Enaberue, urged beneficiaries to make effective use of the equipment and farm inputs to improve production.

In his goodwill message, the South-West Coordinator of the Commodity Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr Segun Dasaolu, said the interventions would strengthen agricultural development and support farmers across the region.

Speaking on behalf of farm settlers in the state, Mr Rotimi Sogunle thanked the governor for supporting farming communities and described OGSTEP as a significant intervention in the state’s agricultural sector.

NAN reports that highlight of the celebration was the symbolic presentation of tractors, agricultural equipment, android phones, fertilisers, herbicides and other farm inputs to beneficiaries.

(NAN)