Governor Dapo Abiodun has placed agriculture at the centre of Ogun State’s economic revival, leading a coordinated, technology-driven push to boost food production, expand agribusiness and empower thousands of young people across the State.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Bolu Owotomo, the Governor said his administration is implementing strategic programmes such as the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), Ogun Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (OGCARES), the Value Chain Development Programme and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) to modernise farming, improve efficiency and drastically reduce post-harvest losses.
Under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and in collaboration with development partners, the Abiodun administration has procured 40 tractors, 10 bulldozers and various harvesters to deepen farm mechanisation. In addition, solar-powered and petrol-powered irrigation pumping machines have been distributed to farmers, enabling dry-season cultivation and ensuring year-round food production.
Governor Abiodun has also directed massive investment in Agricultural infrastructure across farm settlements and estates. This has led to the construction of modern poultry pens, fish processing centres and storage warehouses, facilities designed to enhance processing, preservation and value addition, while improving farmers’ incomes and reducing wastage.
According to Commissioner Owotomo, the Governor is also driving the adoption of climate-smart agriculture, strengthening farmer support services and expanding digital market platforms that link producers directly to buyers, allowing farmers in Ogun to access wider and more profitable markets.
To further strengthen the sector, the State Government, under Abiodun’s leadership, has entered into partnerships with international development organisations and donor agencies, attracting funding, technical expertise and capacity-building support to ensure sustainable agricultural growth.
A major focus of the Governor’s agricultural policy is youth participation. Through the Ogun Youth Agricultural Programme (OYAP), about 8,000 young people are targeted every year for training and engagement in greenhouse and hydroponics farming, equipping them with modern skills and positioning agriculture as a profitable career.
Owotomo explained that all these initiatives are being driven through strict implementation frameworks, improved monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and expanded public-private partnerships, in line with Governor Abiodun’s economic transformation agenda for the State.
He urged farmers, cooperatives and young entrepreneurs across Ogun to take full advantage of the various support programmes, assuring them of the Governor’s commitment to building a modern, resilient and market-driven agricultural sector capable of guaranteeing food security, creating jobs and lifting thousands out of poverty.
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