Farmers set for massive agricultural production in Osun

Members of the Farmers Congress in Osun said they had embraced large-scale farming to ensure massive agricultural production in the state.The President-General of the congress, Dr John Olunlade, made this known in Osogbo in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.Olunlade said the move would also boost national food security and increase farmers income, adding that members had embarked on cultivation of hectares of land for the cultivation of different types of crops.Our members have invested much in growing cassava, rice, yam and maize before the rain stopped and most of us who have interest in dry season farming have started massive cultivation.This is because the atmosphere for farming is conducive, he said.Olunlade said that the new agriculture policies and programme of the state government in the last one year had created avenue for large-scale farming by interested farmers and other people, who want to invest in farming.All the nine farm settlements in the state have been rehabilitated, rural roads were not left out, farmers can now bring their farm produce to the town thereby preventing wastages.We do not need to rely on traditional methods of farming anymore, as tractors and other agricultural machinery are available for rent, thereby making way for modernised farming.Loan disbursement to farmers is on the increase and government assistance to genuine farmers across the state is encouraging, so the sky is the limit for farmers, Olunlade said.He, however, appealed to the state government to avoid giving loans to farmers very late, and said that most farmers would love to take the facility during wet season, when they would be cultivating.The president-general cautioned farmers in the state not to see government loan as their own share of the national cake but use it for the purpose it was taken and repay as and when due for others to benefit.Olunlade called on youths to take advantage of the new agriculture policies and programme of government to engage in farming rather than searching for elusive white collar jobs.
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