Ogun takes step to boost rice production

Ibikunle Amosun

 The state is also through its agricultural projects is creating jobs for rural women and youth.
The Ogun State Government has supplied and installed two sets of rice processing equipment at Moloko-Asipa in Obafemi Owode Local Government and Ago-Iwoye in Ijebu-North Local Government areas to boost rice production in the state.


The Commissioner for Agriculture, Ronke Sokefun, made this disclosure Wednesday during the ministerial briefing on the achievements of her ministry since the inception of the present administration in the state two years ago.

She said, aside from this, government has also carried out farm mechanization services and sold over 500 metric tons of different brands of fertilizers to farmers at approved subsidized rates to enhance the growth of their crops.

Mrs. Sokefun disclosed further that government has, through the Fadama III project, affected the lives of beneficiaries positively and created jobs for rural women and youth.

“Because government has remained committed to prompt payment of counterpart funds for the Fadama III project, income of beneficiaries has increased by 61.4% and income from value addition to agricultural production by 25.4%, while 90.8% Fadama farmers have access to market information on inputs and agricultural outputs.

“The activities of various Fadama User Groups, FUGs, and Fadama Community Associations, FCAs, have also created 19,963 jobs in rural areas for 8,800 women and 1,500 youths,” she said.

She added that following the payment of N143.5mn counterpart fund by the State Government which covered 2009-2012, the Fadama communities had drawn a total of N413.5m of the International Developmental Association, IDA, funds for developmental activities such as the construction of culvert and bore-holes.

Source: Premium Times