Sam Philip
As part of its proactive steps to boost agriculture, Ondo State government in collaborating with the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has begun to review and enhance the 2018 agriculture policy.
The move, according to a statement by Head, Publicity and Media Relations, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Sola Omoboyowa, aims to align the policy with global best practices, ensuring food security and economic growth in the state
Chief Olayato Aribo, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, emphasized the importance of this review at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Akure on Friday. The goal is to create a comprehensive policy guiding all agricultural practitioners in the state.
The Commissioner said the coming together of stakeholders, the review process ensures a well-rounded approach to agricultural development in Ondo State, and the revised policy would address critical areas in the sector.
He added that the state government’s efforts, in partnership with PIND, demonstrate a commitment to transforming the agricultural sector and driving economic growth in the state.
Chief Aribo commended PIND for encouraging smallholders farmers by giving them the needed platform to enhance their productivity, stressing that smallholder farmers contribute not less than 87% to all agricultural produce in Nigeria
He said that the policy, if signed into law and implemented, the state would enjoy food sufficiency, increased income and livelihood amongst the active practitioners in the sector, noting that the draft would be presented to Mr. Governor for his assent after due process.
He, therefore, urged all stakeholders to give the exercise the required attention it deserves, stressing that proper planning is required and the outcome of the exercise would be the fulcrum upon which all decisions in the agricultural sector would be based.
The Commissioner appreciated Governor for his passion to take agriculture to greater height under his watch, which resulted to the inauguration of the Agricultural and Food Security Committee, distribution of palliatives, farm equipment and fertilizers to our farmers across the 18 local government in the state.
In his address, the advocacy manager of PIND, Mr Chuks Ofulue, said PIND foundation is a non-profit organisation that promotes peace and equitable economic growth in the Niger Delta region through strategic partnerships and collaborations.
He added that the foundation has been contributing to strengthening and stabilising in the 9 mandate states 1qregion by reducing conflict and fostering peace and stability, poverty reduction initiatives, gender support initiatives among others.
Mr Ofulue stressed that they are working with the state government to develop agriculture policy that would transform the sector for the growth of the economy of the state and farmers.
The advocacy manager commented on the state for the passion and commitment to the actualization of the policy, urging them to keep it up to the implementation aspect after the policy is formulated.
Also speaking, the resource person for the workshop on Agriculture policy review and validation, Prof. Okunlola James Olaniyi, of the department of Agriculture Extension, Federal University of Technology (FUTA), said the session is important in the agricultural sector, noting that the policy is a statement of action and fundamental tool used in achieving agriculture development.
He added that the policy would give direction, provide objectives, strategies among others.
The scholar added that the review would tell us what to add or remove to meet best practices and current realities, adding that the outcome of the exercise would lead to a document and followed by implementation, which is the laste and most important aspect after necessary steps taken by the state government.
In the same vein, one of the partners, Mr Franklin Oloniju of Life and Peace Development Organisation (LAPDO), an Akure based NGO said the document was developed in 2018, but needed to be reviewed to meet current situations and economic realities for better performance.
He said that the policy is a guiding principle, regulation, and law governing agricultural activities.
Mr Oloniju is optimistic that the state government under the leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa would key into the document to see it becomes law because of the view towards agriculture and passion to tap into vast potential available in the agricultural sector.
Participants were later grouped in various chains in the agriculture sector to brainstorm and come up with workable, acceptable plans to form a draft document that would lead to policy after due process.
Participants were drawn from relevant government agencies, NGOs, farmers association, civil society organisations among others.
