Ogun State Government on Friday, restated the commitment of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration to tackling the challenge of soaring prices of food commodities in the country.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo disclosed this during the harvest of fish by Ado-Odo/Ota Fish farmers’ clusters supported by the state government under the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project.
Owotomo said that Abiodun’s administration has embarked on a series of interventions and support for the farmers all in bid to step up food production efforts and thereby increasing food supply and ultimately crashing the prices of food commodities.
The over 1000 fish farmers grouped into three clusters were said to have been supported each with over 72 bags of feed with the farmers paying 70% while the government paid the balance of 30%.
He explained that the state government’s support for the fish farmers in the state was to ensure that the cost of food in the market was brought down.
Owotomo posited that this was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision to achieve increased food production adding that the farmers have assured to join forces with him to realise this vision for the good of all.
He said, “The trusted fish clusters has three different groups with over 1000 fish farmers. Each of the farmers has been supported with over 72 bags of feed by the government under the OGSTEP programme. The farmers contributed 70% while the state government paid the balance of 30%.
“It is in furtherance of Gov Abiodun’s administration’s commitment to ensuring abundant food production and ensuring that the skyrocketing prices of food commodities are crushed.
“We are assured that with the harvest of fish by these clusters of over 350 fish farmers, they have promised to work in tandem with the state government’s vision by selling below the prices obtainable in the market as we speak. This in support of the vision of President BolaTinubu too who has done a lot to tackle the challenge of rising cost of food in the country”
Owotomo said the state did not just become the capital of aquaculture in West Africa by accident but by various deliberate efforts and support of the state government for its farmers to aid and improve their productivity.
The Project Manager, Oluseyi Olugbire, who represented the Project Coordinator, Mosunmola Owo-Odusi appreciated the farmers for their commitment, calling more farmers to join the list of beneficiaries of the OGSTEP project to ensure that the state has food in abundance.
Also speaking, the Director of Fishery, Niyi Opebiyi, commended the support of OGSTEP, saying that the initiative has helped to support farmers across the state.
The OGSTEP Aquaculture Coordinator for Ado Odo Ota LG, Ebenezer Jinadu, appreciated the governor for his support toward the fish farmers.
Jinadu, however, begged for government support in rehabilitating the roads in the area to aid mobility and make life easier for the people.
