Cynthia Ezegwu
The Oyo State Government on Thursday said it has recorded significant progress in food production through targeted agricultural interventions that have reduced food prices and boosted farmers’ productivity across the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, disclosed this while receiving the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, who paid him a courtesy visit on his birthday in Ibadan.
Olaleye said the state had achieved remarkable gains in agricultural output over the last three years, attributing the success to Governor Seyi Makinde’s sustained investment in mechanised farming, seed distribution, fertiliser support, and farmer training.
According to him, the prices of key food items have dropped significantly due to the administration’s consistent agricultural initiatives.
“Cassava price was about N600,000 per truck three years ago, but today it’s less than N150,000 because of massive investments in agriculture by this administration,” he said.
The commissioner outlined four major government interventions that have transformed the sector: distribution of 65,000 bundles of cassava stems to farmers, provision of hybrid and high-yield seeds, free fertiliser supply, and the tractorisation programme.
Under the tractorisation scheme, the government pays 50 per cent of the cost of ploughing for farmers, allowing them to cultivate more land and expand production.
“If a farmer intends to plough 20 acres, the government pays for 10 acres. That means those who could only cultivate 10 acres before are now able to do 20. The effect has been massive food production across the state,” Olaleye explained.
He said more than 7,000 farmers had benefited from this year’s round of mechanised farming, with over 21,000 acres cultivated so far, compared to 6,000 acres last year. The government also distributed over 12,000 bags of fertiliser free of charge to about 6,000 farmers, depending on their farm size.
“By removing the burden of fertiliser and ploughing costs, the government has made farming easier and cheaper. This has helped farmers expand their operations and lower the cost of production,” he added.
Olaleye further revealed that between November and April, about 4,800 farmers were trained on modern farming techniques such as seed timing, fertiliser application, and pest control — measures that have improved efficiency and yield.
He noted that more than 20,000 tonnes of cassava have been exported through the Ibarapa axis alone, signalling the government’s plan to introduce a tax regime on exports.
On animal husbandry, Olaleye said the free vaccination exercise for over 120,000 cattle and 89,000 sheep and goats had significantly reduced livestock mortality, while poultry and piggery farmers also benefited from free animal feed distribution.
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He explained that most of the agricultural initiatives were designed as part of the government’s Social and Economic Recovery Programme to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on residents.
“The tractorisation and input distribution initiatives were all designed as a response to the rising cost of transportation and food items that followed the removal of subsidies,” he stated.
Olaleye reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustaining the agricultural transformation agenda, stressing that the ultimate goal is to make Oyo State a leading food-producing hub in Nigeria.
Under Governor Makinde’s administration, Oyo State has increased investment in agriculture, positioning the sector as a major driver of economic growth and job creation. The government’s policies emphasise mechanisation, input access, and youth participation in modern farming.
Nigeria’s food inflation rate stood at 16.87 per cent in September 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The Federal Government and several states, including Oyo, have implemented agricultural support measures to boost food security and ease the pressure of rising living costs.