Abiodun prepares Ogun as Africa’s cassava hub,trains farmers

The Ogun State Government  has set up a weed free, fully mechanised Cassava demonstration farm to serve as  model and training centre for cassava farmers in its Anchor Borrowers.  

Conducting media men round  the centre located in the Odeda Farm Institute Eweje, Commissioner for Agriculture  Dr. Adeola Odedina said since the state is handling one of the biggest Cassava Anchor Borrowers Programme in the country,  there is the need to guide Cassava farmers on modern and mechanised systems of farming.

“We are here to monitor activities of the state’s Cassava Revolution  Programme, we are handling one of the biggest  Cassava Anchor Borrowers Programme in the country and some weeks back, the governor linked 2,500 participants with land,credit,inputs and off-taker. 

“We also have another 2,500 hectares meant for young people. The Ogun State Cassava Revolution Programme is the organ that has the mandate of taking off demonstration farms and the implication is that, for every body that is participating  in the State’s Cassava Anchor Borrowers Programme, it must be like this. You have all witnessed how we used technology to establish this farm”, 

Odedina who was accompanied by some top management staff of the Ministry assured that, just as what is obtained in the farm where there is no weed and is well-organised, after planting, beneficiaries can go and sleep, then come back and harvest, appreciating the governor  for funding Cassava Revolution in the State.

Corroborating Odedina’s position, the permanent secretary, ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Dotun Sorunke maintained  that the essence of setting up the centre is that, ” we are no longer using hoe and cutlass farming, we want to use technology,  we want to use innovation and engage our youths to have interest in farming”.

He added that  the mandate of the state’s Cassava Revolution Programme will also focus more on training, research and product development especially along the Cassava Value  Chain, stating that the ministry has also cleared land  in 17 different locations  across the state for 2,500 farmers between ages  18 and 40.

“We have already cleared land for 2,500 farmers between ages 18 and 40 to capture substantial number of our youth farmers who will come here for training”, he disclosed.

Also speaking,  the Programme Coordinator,  Ogun Sate Cassava Revolution Programme, Mrs. Kehinde Jokotoye, said the demo farm, which is a 8 hectares cassava farm, will be of great help in training young farmers as well as  cassava farmers on the proper technology to adopt when growing Cassava.