The Senator representing Ogun West, Olamilekan Adeola, on Tuesday empowered over 5, 000 farmers with farming equipment. Speaking at the event in Ilaro, Adeola noted that the gesture was to ease the economic hardship and prepare for the new planting season.
He noted that the farmers had received trainings in modern agricultural practices.
The farmers also went home with a cash grant of N100,000 to enable them focus on their farming rather than trade away the inputs given to them.
The senator, popularly known as Yayi, stated that programme was in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda on Food Security of President Bola Tinubu’s administration
He added that the event was targeted at addressing some of the challenges faced by farmers.
He stated that the necessity to assist and support farmers stems from the president’s desire for farmers nationwide to operate at least three farming seasons in a year.
“The reforms associated with the oil subsidy regime and the foreign exchange market are yielding expected results and the economy is on course to sustained growth. Inflation, particularly food inflation, came down in February according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.
“From inflation rate of 31.70 per cent in February 2024 to 23.18 per cent in February 2025 is over 8 per cent drop in inflation rate.
“I want to assure you that the APC administration of President Tinubu at the federal level and our governor, Dapo Abiodun , at the state level promises a better future in the months ahead.
“On my part as your representative and pursuant of the Renewed Hope Agenda, I will complement the work of our performing governor, Prince Abiodun in the state.
“I will continue to facilitate projects in the area of infrastructural development, educational advancement, accessible and affordable healthcare as well as security of lives and properties.
“Today’s empowerment programme which is targeted at addressing some of the challenges of our farmers is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda on Food Security of President Tinubu’s administration.
“These challenges include low productivity, lack of training in modern agricultural practices, costly farm implements and seedling as well as limited access to funding,” he said.
“A total number of 5,910 practicing farmers present here today have received training in various aspects ot modern farming methods relative to their specialisation.
“Among the empowerment items for the trained farmers organized in clusters are 19 Tractors, 536 water pumps, 1,800 Sprayers, 10,560 bags of NPKfertilizer,2,880 Home Kit Fertilizer seeds and 5,577 Growth Enhancers.
“Others are 66 Nos of 13 HP Power Tillers, 2,000 gallons of insecticide, 403 Porter Organic Liquid Fertilizers as well as other inputs like cassava stems and improved seedlings” he added.
In her remarks, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, said the programme was part of the conscious efforts of the FG to empower farmers at the grassroots in order to reduce poverty.
