•Reveals 100 communities soil testing result
As part of its proactive measures to ensure food security and sustainable agricultural practices, Oyo State Government has trained farmers on climate-resilient practices, in line with the 2025 rainfall prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
Speaking on the importance of the training to farmers and the state at large, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said the training program was designed to educate farmers on innovative agricultural practices that can help them adapt to the predicted rainfall patterns and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
According to Barrister Olaleye, the training focused on educating farmers on innovative agricultural practices, stressing that the practices include drought-tolerant crops, irrigation management, soil conservation, and organic farming Practices, which can help farmers build resilience to climate-related shocks.
The Commissioner equally revealed that 22,370 farmers were trained on good agricultural practices during OCP soil testing, adding that the results of soil testing conducted in 100 communities across the state in collaboration with OCP Africal would help farmers to know the types of crops to be plant in the said land, adding that the initiative would provides farmers with valuable insights into the nutrient content and fertility of their soils, enabling them to make decisions about fertiliser application and crop selection.
Olaleye explained that, according to the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, the state is anticipated to experience varying dry spell conditions across different Local Government Areas.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Abosede Owoeye, revealed that by providing farmers with access to climate information, soil testing results, and training on climate-resilient practices, the Oyo State Government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde was demonstrating its commitment to supporting the state’s agricultural sector and ensuring food security for its citizens.
She therefore urged the participants to consider the training as training the trainers and ensure every aspect of the training is considered important.
In his goodwill message, the state Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Adewunmi Abass, praised the government’s initiatives to bolster agriculture and food security.
The Chairman said: “The path forward lies in our collective commitment to adopting smart agricultural practices that not only foster resilience against climate change but also promote sustainable and profitable farming.”
“Let us recognise our role as stewards of the land, working to ensure a safer, more sustainable future for generations to come.”
The training was attended by well resource persons such as Professor Samuel Olakojo from IAR&T, Professor Mrs Morufat Balogun from IITA/UI, Dr. Nureni Ayanniyi from NCRI, Baale Agbes, Director of Agrics across the LGAs, Women in Agric and many more.
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