Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State on Thursday commissioned the Farmers’ House and distributed farm inputs to rice farmers at Oke-Baale, Osogbo.
Speaking at the event, Governor Adeleke described agriculture as the backbone of the state’s economy and pledged his administration’s continued support for farmers.
“Agriculture is not only our history, it remains the backbone of our economy,” he said. “It is through agriculture that we can empower our people and unlock the full economic potential of our state.”
The Governor highlighted interventions already carried out, including the distribution of pigs, broiler chicks, fertilisers, cassava stems, cash crop seedlings and vegetable seeds.
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He said 31 tractors with implements had also been procured and deployed across the nine federal constituencies.
“In livestock, we launched the Osun Broilers Out-growers Production Scheme,” he said. “We also supported pig farmers, including young people, women and persons with disabilities, by providing free pig weaners and feed.”
He noted that rural infrastructure was also a priority, with several roads constructed under Osun-CARES and the Rural Access and Mobility Project to ease access for farmers.
“Beyond roads and inputs, we are training and building the capacity of our farmers,” Adeleke added. “Extension services, workshops and trade opportunities are also being expanded.”
The Governor said the newly commissioned Farmers’ House was a statement of government commitment to food security. He announced that over 300 rice farmers would receive free paddy rice seeds.
“This is just the beginning,” he said. “This administration will not relent until food sufficiency becomes the reality for every household in Osun State.”
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Otunba Tola Faseru, in his welcome address, said the foundation of the Farmers’ House was laid during the tenure of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
He recalled that in 2024, the government unveiled 31 tractors, distributed seedlings, fertilisers and agrochemicals, and implemented various schemes to support farmers across the state.
“In the area of empowerment, the Ministry trained youths, women and people with disabilities in pig production,” Faseru said. “Poultry farmers were also supported through the Osun Broilers Out-grower Production Scheme.”
He added that more than 200,000 cocoa seedlings and 30,000 oil palm seedlings had been raised and sold to farmers at subsidised rates, while the Agric-In-School programme was revived.
Faseru said 300 rice farmers, ten from each local government, had been selected to benefit from inputs distributed at the event, including seeds, herbicides and fertilisers.
“Great Farmers, Great Nation, No Farmer, No Nation,” the Commissioner concluded.
