₦airaland Forum

As part of activities marking the implementation of Renewed Hope Initiative in Ogun State, women and youths have been trained on best agricultural practices, within their compound in various enterprises to enhance food security and improved livelihood.

The wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, while addressing participants during the training in Abeokuta, spoke on the importance of planting vegetables and rearing livestock at one's backyard, saying "Every Home A Garden" was an initiative implemented by Senator Oluremi Tinubu whose passion for agriculture was aimed at encouraging women and youths to learn, practice and grow what they eat so as to be self-reliant.

She added that the high cost of food in the country necessitated the need for self-help in agriculture, saying if the knowledge gained from the training was well utilised, and this could expand to the level of exportation, as today's farmers were potential billionaires.

Mrs. Abiodun revealed that, Nigerian first lady had believe in inculcating farming practices to children, which led to the creation of "Young Farmers' Initiative" as a way of reviving the extinct Young Farmers' Club in Secondary Schools, where students were also empowered with seedlings and tools to plant in their various schools.

‘’Senator Oluremi Tinubu is interested in agriculture and has mandated all the First Ladies in each State of the country to carry out this empowerment programme because she believes that each household should grow what they eat to address the current high cost of food in the country. I want to implore you to put into practice all the knowledge gained here today so as to be self-reliant", she admonished.

Speaking, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, said that the programme complements the agricultural road maps of Ogun State towards improving food productivity and enhancing the livelihood of farmers, noting that women were significant players in agricultural value-chains and their contributions to the growth of the sector cannot be over emphasised.

In her remarks, Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Hon. Funmilayo Afuape, canvassed for more empowerment programmes for farmers in the area of easy transportation as well as creation of Farmers' Market in every Local Government Area, to enable the public buy fresh and affordable farm produce.

One of the Facilitators at the training, Director of Fisheries, Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP), Mr. Akindele Abayomi, said the training which involved women, youths and students, was meant to make the beneficiaries self-employed, which would have multiplier effect on them and the economy judging from the quality of training and inputs given to them.

Responding, some of the trainees, Mr. Akindele Oludare from Igbogila and Miss Tomisin Ogunjobi from Abeokuta, said the training had further opened their eyes and deepened their interests in agriculture, as they were now knowledgeable in poultry, fishery and vegetable farming, thanking the organisers for the initiative.

The items distributed were, grinding machine, broilers, poultry feeds, wheel barrows, spraying pumps, watering can, fertilizer and seedlings, shovel, hand trowel, hoes, hats, nursery trays, rakes, hand gloves, herbicides, jungle boots among others.

Dignitaries at the event included top government functionaries, Community Leaders, Students, Agricultural Teachers, Farmers' Groups and other stake-holders in agriculture.