Gov Aiyedatiwa distributes 1200 tonnes of palliative grains to livestock farmers 

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Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has initiated the distribution of maize palliatives and commodities to farmers across the state, aligning with his vision to prioritize food security in Ondo State’s development agenda.

In a statement by Aiyedatiwa’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, it was revealed that 40 trailers of grains, provided by the Federal Government, will be allocated to poultry, piggery, and fishery farmers spanning the 18 local government areas of the state.

Governor Aiyedatiwa emphasized the urgency of implementing measures to address the surging food prices nationwide. He highlighted the establishment of the Agriculture and Food Security committee tasked with promptly responding to this challenge.

The governor said, “Today’s program marks the beginning of a series of activities and initiatives aimed at making our state resilient against food insecurity, complemented by substantial modern agricultural interventions to elevate our status among other states.”

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He addressed the impact of the recent subsidy removal on petrol, which has exacerbated food security issues in Ondo State and Nigeria at large, making life more burdensome for the populace. 

As a government, he asserted the necessity of curbing this trend and ensuring food availability and affordability for all citizens.

Governor Aiyedatiwa also underscored infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing market access through rural roads and empowering smallholder farmers, particularly women and youths, through training, capacity building, and access to credit facilities.

Highlighting the pivotal role of agriculture in the state’s economy, he noted Ondo State’s contribution of 75 percent of tomatoes to markets in Lagos State. 

He announced the distribution of 40 trailers of maize to poultry, fish, and piggery farmers, with plans for further distribution of various food commodities in the future.

The governor expressed gratitude for the support of the Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in approving the distribution of grains and other commodities nationwide.

Rotimi Akinsola, Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Food Security, commended the governor for establishing the committee as a demonstration of his dedication to the welfare of the people. 

He affirmed the committee’s commitment to realizing the governor’s agricultural initiatives and encouraged farmers to utilize the provided agricultural commodities effectively to contribute to price reduction.

He envisioned the state becoming a leading agricultural hub due to its abundant natural resources, pledging to engage with farmers in their communities to understand their challenges and relay them to the governor for prompt solutions.

The event culminated in the presentation of awards to the governor by the Ondo State Agricultural Commodities Association (OSACA).