The Ogun Government has begun distributing 20,000 cashew seedlings to farmers in Abeokuta North and Yewa North Local Government Areas to boost agricultural productivity and food security.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo, disclosed this at the flag-off ceremony in Abeokuta on Friday.
Represented by the Director of Tree Crops and Rural Development Services, James Oyeshola, Owotomo said the initiative was intended to empower farmers economically and increase agricultural output.
He said the two local government areas were selected because of their comparative advantage in cashew cultivation.
The commissioner said the state government remained committed to agricultural development and strengthening the food production value chain.
He explained that the distribution also aimed to help farmers recover from crop losses caused by irregular rainfall earlier in the year.
“We recognise that some farmers may have experienced losses due to the irregular rainfall recorded in June and July.
“This is why the government is prioritising cashew farmers and encouraging them to take advantage of favourable conditions,” he said.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Nigeria Cashew Association, Ogun Chapter, Ganiu Adeniji, commended the government for the initiative.
Adeniji urged beneficiaries to plant the seedlings promptly and adopt appropriate agricultural practices to ensure good yields and early maturity.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of FAAB Ayoka Group Ltd., Fausat Ibrahim, urged the government to establish a cashew-processing factory in the state.
She said local processing would create employment opportunities for young people and increase the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR).
The Director of Agriculture for Abeokuta North Local Government, Yinka Oyebade, described the initiative as a welcome development for the beneficiary communities.
Oyebade advised farmers to nurture the seedlings to maturity, saying the programme would boost local economies and contribute to long-term food security.
