By: Jide Akinseye
The Ogun State Government has inaugurated a cassava processing plant and a solar-powered borehole in Obafe Community, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen food security, promote agro-industrial development and improve rural livelihoods across the state.
The projects were executed under the Federal Government/Ogun State Government International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP).
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, described the initiative as another strategic intervention aimed at supporting cassava farmers and expanding value addition within the agricultural sector.
Owotomo noted that the facility, expected to serve four farmer groups comprising about 60 farmers, represents the second major agricultural infrastructure project delivered in the Obafe axis within one year. He recalled that a farmers’ market and a solar-powered borehole were earlier commissioned in the community under the same programme.
According to him, the intervention aligns with the agricultural development agenda of Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, focused on boosting food production, improving farmers’ incomes and encouraging agro-processing at the grassroots level.
The commissioner disclosed that under the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), over 16,000 farmers have benefited from various support initiatives, while more than 12,000 hectares of land have been cleared for cultivation within the last two years.
He further explained that participating farmers benefitted from a 65 per cent subsidy on land clearing and a 50 per cent subsidy on agricultural inputs, in addition to direct linkage with off-takers to guarantee market access for their produce.
Owotomo revealed that the FGN/OGSG IFAD-assisted VCDP, currently operational in eight local government areas, has delivered 16 cassava processing centres and 55 boreholes across farming communities in the state.
He stated that the programme was designed to increase real agricultural income for smallholder farmers by up to 80 per cent, improve food productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and child malnutrition, strengthen household assets, promote climate-resilient farming practices and deepen financial inclusion in rural communities.
The commissioner assured that additional processing centres, markets and solar-powered boreholes would soon be commissioned in other parts of the state, urging beneficiaries to ensure proper use and maintenance of the facilities to sustain their long-term benefits.
Earlier, the Acting State Coordinator of the programme, Mrs Abiola Sobukola, described the projects as another milestone in Ogun State’s efforts to strengthen agricultural value chains and improve rural livelihoods.
Sobukola explained that the cassava processing centre would significantly enhance value addition for cassava farmers in the benefiting community, while the solar-powered borehole would provide sustainable access to clean water for processing activities and domestic use.
She commended the state government and relevant stakeholders for their commitment to the successful implementation of the programme and urged beneficiaries to take ownership of the facilities for the benefit of present and future generations.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Saubana Ojetola and Mrs Kikelomo Ogunsan expressed appreciation to the Ogun State Government for its continuous support towards achieving food security and rural economic development, pledging to make effective use of the facilities.
