As part of efforts to boost agricultural production in Ogun state, the Governor, Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun, has approved the clearing of 100 hectares of land to launch the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers initiative in Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta.
The CBN’s initiative is set to increase farmer’s productivity and turn the state to the food basket of the nation thereby increasing general consumption and national development.
Presently, about 60 hectares of land have been cleared in MAPOLY out of the 100 hectares allocated for Anchor Borrowers programme in cassava cultivation.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Samson Odedina, disclosed that, land clearing exercise in Moshood Polytechnic, Abeokuta, as one of the sites selected for beneficiaries was mainly for cultivation of cassava.
He said that, a hectare of land would be allotted to Entrepreneurship students as a way of empowering the youths and encouraging young Entrepreneurs in farming as well as interested members of Staff of the Polytechnic.
“The focus of agriculture in the state is to link farmers to industries, and get raw materials from them and the Government cannot do it alone, that is why we are doing the Public-Private Partnership,” the Commissioner said.
“We have off-takers (representatives of industries and factories) in our midst to off-take cassava from the farmers, as the CBN is ready to make the State a model for cassava production in Nigeria, as the success of the State in cassava production would be replicated in other states in the country,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Ag. Rector, Dr. Adeoye Odedeji, has commended the state government for inclusion of MAPOLY in the scheme.
He stressed that, this opportunity would enhance smooth and speedy actualization of the proposed Agricultural Technology department in the Institution.
