Oyo government to boost agricultural extension services – Commissioner .

Oyo state government on Tuesday said it is determined to boost agricultural extension services in and across the state.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye stated this at the first phase of distribution of 15 motorcycles to Agricultural Extension Officers 

He pointed out that agricultural extension officers on serve as links between researchers and farmers and as well played a critical role in the dissemination of innovations and technologies to smallholder farmers to enhance productivity and improve farmers’ standard of living and ensure food security in the state.

“I am highly delighted to welcome you to the distribution of BAJAJ motorcycles to Officers/Extension Agents in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Agricultural Extension Officers (Agents) are the link between the researchers and the farmers”, he said. 

The Commissioner added,”They play a critical role in the dissemination of innovations and technologies to the smallholder farmers, which will invariably increase their productivity and improve their standard of living and ensure food security in the state”.

“Therefore, the Oyo State Government, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, approved the purchase of BAJAJ motorcycles for the Agricultural Extension Agents in the state to enhance agricultural extension service delivery”.

Barrister Olaleye stressed that Gov Seyi Makinde administration will focus on addressing some of the pressing challenges facing agricultural extension services, including systemic decline driven by several key factors, adding, “You will all agree with me that one of the most pressing challenges facing the Agricultural Extension Officers is the systemic decline, driven by several key factors which include critical shortage of Extension Agents due to retirements without adequate replacement”.

He said “Other factors are young people’s reluctance to pursue careers in agriculture and entrepreneurship, lack of sufficient training and professional development of extension agents and lack of proper transportation resources, making it difficult for them to reach and serve farmers in remote villages.

” In ameliorating the observed challenges, the present administration has embarked on programmes, projects and provision of manpower, including this distribution of BAJAJ motorcycles that we are witnessing today. Other interventions include: Start Them Early Programme (STEP) to encourage agricultural interest in secondary school students being replicated in eight zones of Oyo State. The government just concluded the recruitment of 161 officers across cadres in the Ministry”.

Barrister Olaleye noted, “Last year, we also embarked on the training of 131 Extension Agents across the 33 LGAs and LCDAs on the use of digital applications to measure farmland under the 50 per cent tractorisation subsidy programme of the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER)”.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Abosede Owoeye while speaking said the distribution of the motorcycles to Agricultural Extension Officers across the state would serve as tools of transformation, as they will be able to access remote farming communities more efficiently, respond promptly to farmers’ needs and also deliver timely agricultural advisory services.

ENDS