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*By Oluniyi Isamotu
The O-CARES Initiative has significantly advanced agricultural development and food security in Osun State under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
According to the Project coordinator of the agricultural program Dr Adediji, he said “from November 2022 to August 2024, the ministry carried out numerous successful projects that directly helped thousands of farmers and rural communities throughout the state.”
The project coordinator further disclosed that the ministry focused on a multifaceted approach to enhance agricultural productivity, improve rural infrastructure, and support food processing and preservation, which led to the distribution of agricultural inputs in the state.
“O-CARES have distributed agricultural input, support and services to 8,060 farmers in the state, out of which 3,972 were females and 4,088 were males. The various inputs distributed consist of seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, day-old chicks (broilers), juvenile-size fish, feed, drugs, and vaccines to increase the yield alongside ensuring food security in the state.”
According to him, he stated the ministry of Agriculture has also made efforts to enhance market accessibility and minimise post-harvest losses by rehabilitating 90.3 km of roads across the state, which provides an important link in transporting agricultural produce from rural hinterlands to markets.
“This particular project has had a direct positive impact on 19,400 people, such as farmers, traders, and local communities, by enhancing road connectivity, which is the same cause of reduction in transportation costs.”
“In addition to boosting the agricultural value chain, the ministry through O-CARES provided agricultural assets for the production, processing and preservation of farm produce to 8,750 farmers throughout the state. Those resources consist of sprayers, water pumps, pepper grinders, storage freezers, palm oil digesters with engines, palm kernel with separators and engines, cassava graters with engines and other farm assets to improve the economic strength of farmers, prolong the storage time of agricultural products and support food security.”
“The O-CARES initiative under the State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has made a tangible impact on monumental challenges in agriculture across the state. The ministry has improved the life of so many farmers and helped to grow both themselves and economic activity in their areas.”
In the same optimism, Dr. Adediji added that the ministry will not only continue to build on its achievements of recent years but also plans more work among farmers and rural communities in the coming days. He said the success of O-CARES should serve as a model for other states regarding how to harness agriculture-led economic recovery and growth.
“More projects are likely to follow as the O-CARES initiative is being further implemented which will support and improve agricultural production, development of rural infrastructure and increase food security in the state,” he concluded.
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