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The OkeOgun Youths Association, an umbrella body of youths from the 10 Local Governments in Oke Ogun region of Oyo state has called on the state government to reconsider its decision to spend the recently approved N7.6billion loan by the state house of Assembly on Akufo and Eruwa farm settlements only. The association wants the government to spread the facility across other laudable agricultural projects that are currently going on in other parts of the state too.
The call was made when the management of OkeOgun Green Revolution, an initiative of OkeOgun Youths Association paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of the state, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan.
Speaking on behalf of the association, Bola Olalere, the Project Coordinator of OkeOgun Green Revolution expressed the assciation's concern over the plan of the state government to spend the N7.6billion loan recently approved by the state house of assembly on Akufo and Eruwa farm settlements only, saying that it will be unfair on the other regions, especially OkeOgun region, which is the unarguable the food basket of state.
"Our Association pleads with your Excellency to take this our concern to the state Governor , Engr. Seyi Makinde who we believe will ammend the bill and spread the loan across the state" Olalere told the deputy Governor.
Responding, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan promised the government's unflinching support for the Oke Ogun Green Revolution initiative. He said that the Governor Makinde-led administraton is ready to implement policies that will develop Agriculture and generate employment for the youths in all regions of the state.
“OkeOgun, being the food basket of the state would be given adequate attention. It will enjoy improved infrastructural facilities and good road networks that will make life easier for the people and boost the economy of the region ” Olaniyan stated.
He also stressed that part of the administration's plans is to make credit facilities available to young farmers, build silos for storage and offtake most of their products after harvesting. He said that with the dry port coming to Ibadan, it will be easier to export agricultural products direct from the state without having to go to Lagos.
Earlier, Olalere had informed the deputy governor that OkeOgun Green Revolution is aimed at encouraging youths from the region to engage in profitable, sustainable and commercial agriculture by creating a platform that will generate networks that will make the work easier and interesting to them.
He said that the association has acquired 1500 Hectares of land in four different locations across OkeOgun and currently having about 1600 registered members who are ready to take farming as their main occupation.