Oyo state government has partnered with the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) to drive agricultural revolution in the state.
Ojemuyiwa Ojekunle, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, disclosed this while playing host to NIHORT governing board, led by its chairman Muhammad Garba.
Ojekunle stated that NIHORT has always proffered solutions to agricultural issues, adding that the present administration was ready to explore all opportunities to foster mutual collaboration and cooperation towards a successful agric policy implementation in the state.
Ojekunle said that the economy of Oyo state under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde placed a high priority on agricultural development as a key strategy to industrialise the state’s economy while creating jobs for the unemployed and opening up Oyo for investments.
“We are happy to declare our readiness to go into partnership with NIHORT towards fostering our desired agricultural revolution in Oyo. We recognise the impact of the research institution on the nation’s economy and in sustaining the drive to banish hunger,” he said.
“It is part of the promise made by the Governor Makinde to revive the state’s economy and engage a substantial percentage of our youths in agriculture,” he further said.
“Adequate funding of mechanized farming is the target, it has started and we will not look back,” he added.
Ojemuyiwa declared that the present administration was on a mission to make Oyo economically strong and viable without having to depend on oil proceeds to develop its critical sectors, adding that the determination to take Oyo state to an enviable height among other states of the federation in terms of revenue and employment generation was made clear by governor Makinde from the onset.
Garba, chairman of NIHORT governing board appreciated the commissioner for receiving them on behalf of the governor and added that the visit was a courtesy call to seek ways of mutual collaboration and cooperation towards successful implementation of agricultural development in the state and by extension, Nigeria.
He said that President Buhari has consistently propagated agricultural development as an alternative to oil and the federal government was working towards achieving the feat, adding that the agriculture agenda of Oyo State government was in line with the mandate of the institute, which necessitated the visit.
