Ogun state government in partnership with the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM) has flagged off the SAWAH Eco-Technology for Rice Farming (SERIF).
The state government and NCAM had established the technology- driven intensive rice production and mechanisation demonstration farm in November last year, with the aim of training small holder farmers and youth to grow rice all year round, taking advantages of natural resources like swamps and streams.
Performing the flag off at Sawonjo, Yewa North local government area of the state, Governor Dapo Abiodun said the exercise was a further demonstration of his administration’s resolve to walk its talk in promoting rice value chain in the state.
Represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, Abiodun assured that his administration would continue to accord high premium on agriculture, leading to food security, reiterating that in 2020, the state government facilitated linkage for 3,721 rice farmers to fund opportunities, inputs, among others.
“We affirm our resolve to fund climate smart agriculture to enable our farmers integrate technology with the abundant natural resources, to grow crops all year round- to defeat negative effects of climate change and hunger, while providing jobs and ensuring that our host industries run well, and thus keying into the diversification agenda of the federal government, which is also a global direction in managing the changing dynamism of Governance and Economic Integration,” he said.
Governor Abiodun also disclosed the state’s readiness to partner other states on the expansion of value-chain opportunities for farmers and other agricultural stakeholders.
“The year 2021 will witness expanded opportunities in the Anchor Borrowers Programme in rice and other commodities. The state is also finalising partnership opportunities with Kebbi and Lagos states, on the expansion of Rice business opportunities for the benefit of farmers and other Rice value chain actors”, the governor said.
