Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Wednesday inaugurated the Annual State Farmers’ Support Programme through which 20,000 small-holder farmers received improved seedlings, farm implements and fertilisers.
The programme was initiated in conjunction with the State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES,) – a World Bank-supported intervention.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme, which is part of the activities marking the second anniversary of the Makinde’s administration, held at the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, in Oke-Ogun area of the state.
In his remarks, the governor recalled that similar support programme was carried out at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, where about 10,000 small scale farmers were empowered.
He described the small-holder farmers as vital in the efforts of the state government to boost food production.
The governor promised to do more in assisting genuine farmers across the state to enhance food security.