In a significant stride towards bolstering agricultural development and alleviating poverty, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) and the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Services (FDAE), conducted a transformative training and empowerment program for 243 smallholder farmers in Osun State.

Held today 6th of February 2024 at the Osun State office of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the initiative aimed to equip vulnerable farmers with the knowledge and resources necessary to thrive in the agricultural sector. Under the guidance of Professor John Oyinlola Oladeji, a distinguished expert from the University of Ibadan, participants underwent training on establishing and managing successful agribusiness ventures.

The programme, which saw the distribution of essential agricultural inputs including maize seeds, knapsack sprayers, organic fertilizers, herbicides, poultry feeds, fish feeds, day-old chicks, pepper seeds, okra seeds, and tomato seeds, underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering grassroots farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

The event was declared open by the State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, representing the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Peter Temitope Fashedemi. Osun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Babatola Faseru, lauded the initiative, emphasizing the pivotal role of agriculture in national food security and economic prosperity.

Dignitaries including Mrs. Oluwakemi Fadare, Programme Manager of Osun Agricultural Development Programme, and representatives of Osun State Government graced the occasion, highlighting the collaborative efforts towards agricultural transformation in the state.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, beneficiaries such as Kaleni Hamzat and Samson Omoloye pledged to utilize the acquired knowledge and resources to uplift their communities and contribute to the nation’s agricultural development agenda.

The training and empowerment programme serve as a beacon of hope for smallholder farmers in Osun State, signaling a renewed commitment by the Federal Government to empower grassroots communities and drive sustainable agricultural growth across the nation.