The Oyo Community Action Resilience And Economic Stimulus (OYO- CARES) on Thursday, commenced the fourth phase distribution of agricultural farm inputs to 300 crop and livestock farmers in Ido Local Government Area to further enhance food production in Oyo State. The exercise aims at distribution of agricultural inputs and provision of capacity building and extension services to 3,660 beneficiaries in 26 local government areas of Oyo state under the Nigeria Community Action Resilience And Economic Stimulus (N-CARES). The inputs distributed are, NPK fertilisers, maize seeds and tomato seeds, one liter of herbicide chemicals goats among others. The State Project Coordinator, Result Area 2 for N- CARES, Mr Bamigblola Kolawole disclosed that the beneficiaries comprises farmers from three Farmers Community Associations( FCA ) which includes beneficiaries of the Youth Entrepreneur Agro-preneur Programme (YEAP). According to him, the 300 beneficiaries are grouped into 10 farmers each, with 140 livestock farmers, another 140 cassava and maize farmers and 20 tomato farmers. He explained further that while the crop farmers are getting fertilizers, agro-chemicals and seeds, the livestock farmers are getting goats. “This is the major support we are given to them and the essence of this is to assist these farmers to increase food production in the state and this is not the first time we are doing such in Ido Local Government”, he said. Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Chairman of Ido Local Government, Sheriff Adeojo appreciated the state governor Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde for the initiative which he said has greatly supported farmers in the council to enhance agricultural activities in the area. He advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the inputs for the intended purpose assuring that the state government will continue to support farmers to boost food production in the state and the county at large. A maize and cassava farmer Ishola Olajumoke and a beneficiary of the Youth Entrepreneurship Program, Ridwane Akinade appreciated the support to farmers which they said came at the right time assuring that the inputs will be utilized judiciously. Also in Afijio Local Government, Jobele no fewer than 170 beneficiaries comprising Agbedun FCA with seven Cassava group (70 beneficiaries) as each received 15 bundles of Cassava cuttings, 50 kg of NPK fertilizer and 1 liter of herbicide chemical, also in Afijio LGA, Agbesanwa FCA comprises of 7 livestock farmer group (70 beneficiaries) and each of the seventy beneficiaries goes home with two goats, 3 maize groups, (30 beneficiaries) received 10kg bag of maize seeds, 50 kg of fertilizer, and 1 liter of herbicide chemical. In his reactions, the Executive Chairman of Afijio Local Government, Hon Emmanuel Olufemi Aikomo, who was on ground to witness the distribution exercise lauded the Engr Seyi Makinde for the support. He equally urged the beneficiaries to make the inputs given to them in order to get compliments the efforts of the state government on food sufficiency in the state. Similarly, in Oyo West, where we have Agbeparapodola FCA which comprises of five livestock farmers groups, all the 50 beneficiaries in the group received two goats each, while the five Cassava Farmers Group of 50 beneficiaries received 20 bundles of Cassava cuttings. Also in Oyo West we have Agbegbayi FCA and under that group we have three cassava farmers groups, 2 maize groups and 5 livestock farmers groups. The 200 beneficiaries of livestock farmers group under Ifelagba FCA received two goats each making 200 goats in total. In Oyo East Local Government, under Agbeloba FCA which comprises of five Cassava Farmers Groups, five Livestock Farmers Groups received their farm inputs. The beneficiaries in Atiba Local Government under the Agbegbewa FCA where we have seven Maize Farmer’s Groups, three livestock groups received their inputs accordingly, we also have Agbedola FCA that comprises of 10 livestock groups.
