ibironkeeniola 
Osun state government, as part of its plans to boost food security in the state, has distributed farm inputs to about 6,000 farmers.
The distribution held at the Government Secretariat in Osogbo, to flag-off the 2020 planting season.
Governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, noted that the state was keen on creating an enabling environment for agribusinesses to thrive and create job opportunities.
He said the government was also setting sight on the establishment of cottage industries, adding that it will support individuals who have chosen agriculture as a profession.
To this end, he said his administration would support food sufficiency and agribusinesses, via the provision of farm inputs and other forms of financial support.
According to Oyetola, the state government has partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) and the Nigeria Cassava Growers Association(NCGA) to distribute farm inputs to over 2,000 farmers via the Anchor Borrowers Programme.
The state has also approved the release of funds to the Federation of Fadama Community Associations (FFCA), as well as ensures that inputs are made available to rice farmers at subsidised rates.
“In the face of dwindling revenue generation from Crude Oil, which has been the mainstay of the nation’s economy, this challenge presents a great opportunity for serious and would-be farmers to take advantage of.
“In view of the above, our government considers it necessary to support all farmers in the state to boost agricultural production, which will ensure food sufficiency and availability of raw materials for our industries.
“In previous years, our supports were in the form of subsidised inputs. But this year, we are giving agricultural inputs such as maize seeds, cassava cuttings, vegetable seeds, lime, fingerlings, and knapsack sprayers free to farmers to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on all the citizenry within and outside the state.
“Also, arrangements are in top gear to disburse soft loans to small and medium- scale enterprises at a reduced interest rate through the Bank of Agriculture (BOA)”, he said.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA