Ogun State Government, through the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), in collaboration with the World Bank, has organized a stakeholders’ forum focused on the efficient management, optimal use, and long-term sustainability of farm mechanization equipment.
The event, which took place in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, aimed to ensure that the agricultural equipment, including tractors, ploughs, harrows, planters, and combine harvesters, are well-maintained and effectively utilized.
In his address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Bolu Owootomo, represented by Mrs. Kehinde Jokotoye, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, underscored the significance of managing the machinery properly.
According to him, this approach will help reduce maintenance expenses, enhance fuel efficiency and increase the lifespan of the equipment.
“You can see how responsive the government is to farmers. After we have produced what we need to produce, the government has gone beyond just providing processing equipment; it has also ensured that we have a place to sell our produce,” he said.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Mosun Owo-Odusi, the Project Coordinator of OGSTEP, represented by the Agricultural Sector Project Manager, Dr. Oluseyi Olugbere, emphasized the importance of collective efforts in maintaining and sustaining the newly procured machinery.
“When the Commissioner took office, he recognized the need for mechanization equipment. We approached the World Bank last year with justifications for why such tools were crucial for our farmers,” she said.
She further noted that the success of the project would depend on all stakeholders’ involvement.
Also speaking, OGSTEP’s Environmental Safeguard Officer, Mr. Seyi Mayungbe, advised handlers of the equipment on the importance of adhering to safety protocols in order to reduce accidents and ensure that the machinery is handled with care.
Mr. Rotimi Sogunle, Chairman of the Ajegunle Farm Settlement, expressed his appreciation on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanking the Ogun State Government for the initiative.
He assured the government and all stakeholders that they would ensure the effective and efficient use of the equipment to boost agricultural productivity.
As part of its efforts to increase sustainable agricultural investments, OGSTEP, led by its FRILIA Specialist, Oladipupo Sofowora, has also carried out a series of stakeholder engagements and environmental assessments in Itoro and Isomu communities.
The team, which included representatives from the Land Management Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Bureau of Lands and Survey, and OGSTEP, engaged community members to align their interests with responsible land-use practices.
The team conducted an on-site evaluation to identify a suitable plot of land for the allocation to Odewole Farms Ltd, a key agrifood investor chosen under the FRILIA Pilot Programme.
This aims to ensure that the land is conducive to sustainable agricultural development while fostering positive relations between the community and the investor.
