Protocols:
It is with great delight that I welcome you all to the official flag-off of the 2020 Planting Season and Distribution of Inputs to the first batch of Cassava Value Chain beneficiaries under the Ogun State Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).
The present administration under the leadership of His Excellency, Prince (Dr) Dapo Abiodun MFR, has identified Agriculture as one of the pivots upon which the economy of our dear State would stand. This has informed the Government’s drive towards ensuring the State’s participation in the ongoing Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the Federal Government through the CBN intervention fund. This programme has registered over 60,000 participants in Ogun state across seven (7) value chains, which includes Cassava.
To date, N680Million has been disbursed by CBN to 3,500 Cassava farmers in Ogun State in the last six (6) weeks; while inputs would be received by beneficiaries at the point of use, to maintain the integrity of Ogun State Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) which has been adjudged to be exemplary and transparent. Ogun State is taking giant strides in ensuring farmers are linked to opportunities provided by huge investment in Agriculture and demand for primary products/raw materials. Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture will ensure that all our ABP nominees in all commodities are trained at no cost to them, to attain the productivity required for wealth and prosperity, so that others can also be employed through Agriculture.
As we all know, the onset of the rainy season signifies the entrance of a new planting season; and Ogun State is leaving no stone unturned to prepare for a bountiful harvest despite the threats and restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. On behalf of all the farmers in our great state, I want to appreciate and commend the tireless efforts of our Governor, His Excellency, Prince (Dr) Dapo Abiodun, MFR, in ensuring that Ogun State retakes her seat as a foremost Agro Industrial and Food Security Centre to be reckoned with in Nigeria. I wish to also, on behalf of farmers and stakeholders, appreciate His Excellency for approving the COVID-19 Agricultural strategy that allows uninterrupted farming and input distribution activities, amid the current pandemic situation; including the plan to engage more youths as part of the response to food security issues, job creation and linkages.
Also, I want to use this opportunity to congratulate the 3,500 beneficiaries of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme present and represented here. To link at a single swipe and connect such number of farmers (3,500) for a single commodity to 60bundles of improved cassava stems each, 4bags of fertilizers each, 11litres of herbicides each, funds and free extension services; with captured biodatas (faces, BVNs, phone numbers, house addresses, farm locations, etc) is unprecedented, not only in Ogun State and Nigeria, but also in Africa as a whole.
To this end, let me emphasize the need for the utmost commitment of the beneficiaries in their farming activities and also to remind them, that “to whom much is given, much is expected”. If you succeed, others would follow!
May I also appreciate members of the Ogun State ABP Committee, staff of Cassava Revolution Programme, Agro Services Corporation, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health; Input Distributors, Offtakers, and Security Agencies, for achieving success in this linkage programme.
Great farmers, ladies and gentlemen, once again I welcome you all to this great event.
A roko bodunde o.
Great Farmer! Great Nation!!
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