Osun Empowers over 100 Livestock Farmers

By Yinka Kolawole

As part of efforts to reposition agriculture, ensure food security and empower young farmers in the state, the Osun State Government has commenced massive distribution of chicks to livestock farmers in the state.

However, no fewer than 100 farmers benefitted from the first phase of the distribution exercise, as each of the beneficiaries took home 2,000 day-old chicks.

The state government also commenced massive distribution of feed-mills, vaccines and drugs to farmers, an effort geared towards enhancing their production capacity.

The initiative is anchored under the Osun Broilers Out-growers Production Scheme (OBOPS-III), which is aimed at eliminating poverty and enhancing production capacity of the livestock farmers in the state.

Beneficiaries of the initiative lauded the state Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, for his administration’s efforts at revitalising the state agriculture sector through numerous interventions as well as the implementation of farmers-friendly policies.

While flagging off the distribution exercise at Ara Junction, Ede, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Dayo Adewole, said the initiative was designed to support farmers, particularly the youths and women, who could not afford to secure the chicks.

Adewole, who was represented by the Director of Livestock Services, state Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Amos Daramola, said adequate vaccines, drugs and feed-mills that would be enough to last between five and six weeks had been put in place for distribution to beneficiary farmers.

The commissioner, who described the initiative as a veritable tool to eliminate poverty, hunger and the scourge of unemployment in the state, said the scheme would go a long way to further attract and encourage the young ones to agriculture particularly livestock production.

eiterating the commitment of the administration of Oyetola to revamp the agriculture sector, Adewole noted that efforts were tailored towards tapping and advancing the numerous opportunities embedded in the scheme having identified its potential to enhance the goals of the livestock farmers.

He urged the beneficiaries of the scheme to avail themselves of the multifaceted advantages in the initiative.

In their separate remarks, some of the beneficiaries, who expressed satisfaction and delight at the kind gesture extended to them by the state government, promised to justify the purpose for which the programme was implemented.