Ogun Rolls Out High-Tech Farming Drive to Boost Food Production, Empower Youths
In a bold push to reposition Agriculture as a major economic driver, the Ogun State Government has launched a sweeping mechanisation and youth-inclusion strategy aimed at boosting food production, strengthening Agribusiness and guaranteeing food security across the State.
Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration, according to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Bolu Owotomo, is implementing key programmes such as the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), OGCARES, the Value Chain Development Programme and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones to raise productivity and curb post-harvest losses.
Owotomo said the State has procured 40 tractors, 10 bulldozers and harvesters to deepen farm mechanisation, while solar-powered and petrol-powered pumping machines have been distributed to farmers to support dry-season farming and year-round cultivation.
He added that the Government has invested in infrastructure within farm settlements and estates, including the construction of poultry pens, fish processing centres and storage warehouses, to improve processing, storage and value addition.
The Commissioner noted that the Administration is also promoting climate-smart Agriculture, strengthening farmer support systems and expanding market access through digital platforms to enable farmers reach wider markets.
Owotomo further disclosed that Ogun State has partnered with International organisations to attract funding, technical expertise and capacity-building support to drive sustainable agricultural growth.
“These interventions are expected to significantly enhance food security, reduce poverty and stimulate economic development in Ogun State,” he said.
He also revealed that the Government has introduced youth-focused agricultural programmes, notably the Ogun Youth Agricultural Programme, which targets 8,000 youths every year in greenhouse and hydroponics farming.
Owotomo explained that the Ministry is aligning its operations with the State’s economic transformation agenda through strict implementation frameworks, improved monitoring and evaluation, and expanded public-private partnerships.
The Commissioner urged farmers and young people in the State to take advantage of the Government’s support programmes, assuring them of the Abiodun Administration’s commitment to their welfare and to building a modern, resilient Agricultural sector.
