Ondo farmers applaud Gov. Aiyedatiwa’s focus on agriculture development

The President of the group, Mr. Abayomi Monilari, speaking to the press on Thursday in Akure, highlighted the governor’s dedicated attention to the sector as crucial for ensuring food security in Ondo State.

National Daily Newspaper reports that the state’s N655 billion budget for the year 2025 has allocated a substantial sum of N56.102 billion to the agricultural sector, representing 8.60 per cent of the total budget.

Mr. Monilari specifically pointed to the free distribution of fertilizers and bags of maize to poultry, sheep, and pig farmers as key interventions that led to a significant reduction in their cost of production.

He noted that these initiatives also resulted in a noticeable decrease in the prices of eggs, chickens, and pigs across the state in 2024.

“Last year, the state governor gave us free fertilizers; maize to pig farmers, poultry farmers, and sheep farmers in a bid to reduce the cost of production,” Monilari stated. “Immediately, we saw the effect of this on the market price because there was grain in reserve and prices of those things crashed in the state.”

Looking ahead, he expressed optimism about the governor’s continued support for farmers.

“This year, I know that he has a lot for farmers because if we go by the budget of the state, it has never happened in the history of the state; what he budgeted for agriculture.”

He further revealed an additional financial commitment to the sector.

“Apart from that, he also put aside another N7 billion in case there are other projects that will come on agriculture. If you remember, last year also, he released N2 billion.”

ALSO READ : FCSP condemns call for dissolution of NUP exco

However, Mr. Monilari also mentioned a previous instance where farmers exercised caution.

“But when we realized that there’s no way the targeted projects would not fail, that was why we stopped it and we didn’t take the money he released,” he explained.

Highlighting the agricultural prowess of the state, Mr. Monilari stated that farmers in Ondo State are responsible for producing over 65 per cent of the tomatoes consumed in Lagos State.

“Over 65 per cent of tomatoes being consumed in Lagos is produced in Ondo State because the type of tomato we produce here differs from the one produced in the north,” he said. “Our tomato can last at least, two weeks without getting rotten.”

He concluded by urging the people of Ondo State, particularly the youth, to develop an interest in agriculture, assuring them that the government is making significant efforts to maximize food production within the state.