Gov Adeleke Discloses Food Security Strategy During Visit To Agriculture Minister In Abuja

Barely 24 hours after Mr President’s met with state governors in Abuja,  Governor Ademola Adeleke  has  announced his administration’s food security strategy that will ease things for Osun state people while urging  unity of effort  to resolve the current national economic crisis.

The governor ,who attended President Bola Tinubu’s meeting with the state governors on Thursday, was at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture  on Friday during which he disclosed the extensive agenda of his administration to ensure food security and expand food production.

A statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed noted that Adeleke , who was received  by the Minister of Agriculture,  former Senator Abubakar Kyari, was accompanied by the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Tola Faseru.

Adeleke has also submitted that this is an emergency era in the economic life of the country.

‘We therefore have a duty to look and act beyond partisan politics and ensure collective efforts towards restoration of normalcy. A federation works best when component units join hands for common good’  the governor told the minister.

‘It is in that line that I am here today. The first reason is to brief you on what the Osun state government is doing on the issue of food security and ongoing economic challenges facing the nation.

Mr President yesterday briefed the state governors on the state of the nation. He outlined several steps state governors should take to stem the crisis of food security and inflation.

 I am happy to report that the Osun government has been very proactive. First we are setting up a State Security Trust Fund to mobilize financing for security agencies. This is going to be private sector- driven.

Secondly, I have conveyed a food security meeting for Monday to brainstorm on how to further secure our farmlands. I will be meeting with representatives of Hunters association and the Amotekun commanders alongside the civil defense and police services. The goal is to strengthen farm security.

Our administration is also working on Small Farmers’ Equipment Lending service. This is to ease the access of small scale farmers to tractors and other needed machineries. We are meeting this week to finalise the plan ahead of the onset of the rainy planting season.

To expand food production, we are also pushing to implement a City to Farm programme. This was designed to encourage young small scale farmers. This will expand production and also engage our young people.

This is alongside our plans for a regional farmer’s markets where off takers can meet farmers for exchange and market relationship.
We need your technical support to implement many of the listed programmes.

On a more general level, our administration recently unveiled a Cocoa Revival plan for the state. It involves several activities which focus on moving Osun from 3rd to 1st cocoa producer in Nigeria. We seek partnership with the federal Ministry of Agriculture on this.

Our government is also interested in the livestock development programme. We have submitted our expression of interest. Kindly help to facilitate early approval.

The state is also interested in the Agro-processing zones project being implemented under the African Development Bank. I hosted a delegation of the AFDB in Osun two weeks ago. Your ministry’s support on this is also solicited.

Overall , I seek an MOU with this ministry to ensure standby collaboration with our government. I will be glad if we can have a small committee to ensure the making of the MOU’ he added.

 Responding , the minister commended the multi-partisan approach of the governor to state governance, pledging to work on all the aspects he has touched.

He restated the determination of President Bola Tinubu to address the national economic challenges, informing the delegation that the meeting with the governors was part of a broad plan to ensure immediate resolution of the current dislocations within the economy.

While describing the state governments as key partners in national economic development, the minister expressed happiness about the proactive measures listed by the governor and assured him of federal support and assistance-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you