Rachael Olokungboye
ONDO -The Ondo state government has expressed its willingness to embrace modern innovative ideas to advance agriculture in the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Agriculture, Mr. Sunday Akintomide made this announcement in Akure during a presentation by the Enterprises Grooming Institute Limited.
In a statement “He said the Ministry was open to such ideas and innovations that could turn around fortunes of farmers in the state and thereby improve food production and by extension the economy of the state will improve.
He added that, Agriculture in the state should not be leg behind the ways past generations did.
He said “We are in information age, where new philosophies, ideas and such are evolving daily. These are being used by individuals and corporate bodies as well as countries of the world to improve all facets of Agriculture.
And I think Ondo State in particular and Nigeria in general need to tap these ideas from successful practitioners. This ministry is ready and ever willing to have people who are doing these to pass them onto our teeming farmers. Let them come forward and show it. In conjunction with other stakeholders we can get all the farmers for the knowledge impartion.”
Earlier in his presentation, leader of the team, Mr. Ajisefini Ayodeji spoke on the paper titled, Agro Business As It Relates To NIRSAL Micro Finance Bank AGSMEIS For Farmers.
According to him, , Ondo was blessed with a good vegetation that is good for farming. He explained that the group was teaching farmers the way to turn farming into a business.
“When our farmers move to the level of treating their means of livelihood as a business, it will have a multiple effect on the economy. Agriculture as business will benefit the farmers as its going to make them richer by being more productive and thereby become tax payers.
I think our farmers should embrace cluster farming system and have processing plants for their produce. These would help them to get going as businessmen in Agriculture. I have been to Ondo, Owo, IleOluji and other areas of the state, where I sensitise the farmers.”
He added that his institute helped people to acquire information about windows of loan opportunities available in the banks and other financial institutions as well as means of benefitting from them.
While speaking on what brought the outfit to the state, the Director of Agric Finance and Marketing Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Oloruntoba Bayo said the visit was approved by the former Commissioner and the PS.
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