From: CLEMENT ADEYI, OSOGBO
The Osun State Government is collaborated with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to train farmers and the youths in the state to actualise its food production and security initiative.
This followed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which was signed in 2014 with the institute (IITA) by the state government to develop agriculture and generate agricultural inputs in the state.
Coordinator of Osun Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Programme (O-Reap), Dr. Charles Akinola, who disclosed this to Daily Sun in Osogbo, on Tuesday, said the move was a part of Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration’s commitment to transforming the agric sector in the state and to ensure the welfare of the farmers and generate employment for the youths through agriculture.
At least, 100 farmers each as well as about 500 youths from the 30 Local Government Areas in the state will benefit from the first batch of the training programme.
Dr. Akinola also disclosed that about 205.5 hectares of land had been earmarked for the agricultural activities in executing the project.
He added that Governor Aregbesola has launched a Research and Training Farm Institute in Ago Owu village in Ayedaade Local Government Area of the state to execute the project.
Daily Sun gathered that officials of IITA had swung into action in providing on-the-spot training to thousands of farmers and youths who were present at the launching of the Research and Training Farm Institute.
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) which focuses on the training, retraining and conducting researches that increase farmers’ yield will also expose the farmers to modern agricultural practices during the training programme.
While explaining the rationale behind the collaboration, Aregbesola said: “We partner the international institute to deepen our commitment to massive food production in the state and ensure that the farmers’ yields are improved geometrically in a bid to actualize our food production and security initiative.”