Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State on Saturday flagged off the 2024 wet season farming with the deployment of over 100 tractors and other implements to farming communities in the 21 local government areas of the state.
Speaking at the flagg off of the event at Geregu, Ajaokuta Local Government, Ododo said the tractors will be deployed to cultivate 7,324 hectares of land that has been acquired across the state for the wet season farming project.
He said about 10,000 farmers have been selected to cultivate the land which are located in all the 21 council areas, saying that over N7 billion was spent to procure the tractors and other farming implements that will be distributed to the farmers.
Ododo explained that investment in agriculture is critical to the success of the ongoing efforts to eradicate poverty, create jobs and wealth for the people.
According to him, 75 per cent of the total farmland cleared for cultivation in this year’s farming season will be allocated to youth and women farmers.
He said the 7,324 hectares of land acquired for this wet season farming has been formed into 79 farm clusters for effective monitoring and supervision.
The Governor disclosed that over 90 per cent of the state land mass is arable for farming, promising to make Kogi a leading state in agricultural production and contribute to the development of Nigeria’s economy.
“Across the 21 local government areas of the state, we are opening farmlands and preparing more land for cultivation of crops like rice, maize, cassava, yam and other staple food crops and grains.
“We have also procured farm implements for full scale agricultural mechanization in line with our agenda to ensure food security in the state.
“Our youths are beginning to embrace agriculture as a credible source of wealth creation and our women in agriculture are already on the field because of their believe in our commitment to transform the agricultural sector in the state.
“I call on wealthy Kogites at home and abroad to begin to explore the window of opportunities that abound in the agro industry,” the governor said.
Ododo commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the agricultural transformation initiatives in the country, assuring that his administration has keyed into the cardinal objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda to ensure food security in all parts of the country.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Honourable Timothy Ojoma noted that the commencement of the wet season farming across 79 farm clusters in the state is a significant step in the agricultural transformation agenda of the state by Governor Ododo.(vitalnewsngr.com)
