The Osun Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Sunday Atoyebi, says the Federal Government (FG) has been consistently training farmers in modern agriculture to boost food production in the country.
Atoyebi, an engineer, disclosed this in Osogbo on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the government’s efforts to eradicate hunger in Osun and Nigeria in general.
He said marketing boards had also been set up to assist in the buying and selling of farmers’ farm produce.
“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture has been training and retraining farmers on improved methods of farming and food production through the state government and government agencies.
“We have sent out extension agents to train farmers in modern agriculture (mechanisation) because we believe farming has evolved and that farming with the same method and bringing the same result will not help the present situation.
“In addition, the FG has also established marketing boards to assist farmers in selling their produce.
“Government is buying farm produce from serious farmers who are into production and storing in their grain reserves to supply when there is need by the people,” he said
The FG, he said, is also distributing farming equipment to farmers through the different farmers’ associations and state government at no cost, and in some cases, at subsidised rates.
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“The FG has also given organic and inorganic fertilisers to farmers in the state at no cost, and some at a token,” he said.
Atoyebi said the FG started a dry season planting programme in 15 northern states with wheat planting through irrigation toward the end of 2023.
According to him, the programme, due to its success, has been extended to all the states in the federation with more crops like rice, maize, and cassava added. (NAN)
