Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State has revealed hope of economic recovery in 2021 even after outbreak of the coronavirus had taken a better part of 2020.
The governor made this known in his New Year address to the state. He said the state will ‘grow bio-fortified crops such as Vitamin Cassava and maize’. He added that Ogun State now ranks number one in cassava production and poultry in the nation while in the Southeast, the state is number one in rice production.
According to the governor, the year will begin with ‘intensifying focus on nutrition as part of our Agricultural Agenda by assisting and encouraging value chain actors to grow bio-fortified crops, such as Vitamin A cassava and maize.’
Abiodun stated that one key area of focus is agriculture because Ogun state has recorded profound success in spite of the challenges of the past year.
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Gov. Abiodun further stated that the value chain approach has linked 8,500 Ogun indigenes to inputs and credit under the FGN-IFAD-Ogun Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in Rice and Cassava value chain. Over 70,000 farmers have been registered for different commodities.
The governor stated that the agricultural program in the state has created job opportunities for the youths. This has also contributed to food security in the state.
‘To further develop capacity, Ogun State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, to upgrade the Odeda Farm Institute into a Diploma Awarding Research and Training Institution,’ he added.
