No fewer than 26 Agricultural Cooperative Societies from 6 Local Government Areas (LGAs), in Ogun State have been supported with N26m grant, to improve their farming techniques for maximum profit, productivity and increase food supply in the state.
The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Ms. Adenrele Adesina while presenting the cheques to beneficiaries in Abeokuta, advised them to use the grant for the right purpose and ensure that every member of the Cooperative Societies benefited.
She said that the grant was given to the societies to enable members upgrade their farming skills to maximise profit and boost food supply in the state.
According to her, the grant was the highpoint to round up a 3-day Agricultural Production Improvement course for Ogun State Agricultural Cooperative Societies in 6 LGAs under the 2015 Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS)-LGAs Track Project.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Adekunle Hassan while speaking at the event disclosed that the training programme which was organised by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSSAP) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Ogun State Government in collaboration with a Management Consulting firm, Kunle Akiode & Co., would be extended to other LGAS in the state, adding that beneficiaries would be monitored by government officials to ensure judicious utilization of the grant.
The Assistant Secretary, Farmers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State Branch, representing Ifo LGA, Mr Paul Adekunle, described the programme as eye opener for members, as many of them had been exposed to new, better and easier farming skills including farm management and record keeping.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Agbe Davis and Mr Lipede Gbenga from Sagamu and Obafemi Owode LGAs respectively, appreciated the organisers of the programme and solicited for provision of modern farming equipment at subsidised rate to attract younger generations into the vocation.
Beneficiaries of the grant were, Agricultural Cooperative Societies from Ifo, Ado-Odo Ota, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Obafemi Owode and Abeokuta North Local Government Areas.
