Agriculture

Ogun to cultivate 20,000 rice plantations

In its determination to boost food sufficiency and make Ogun, the food basket of nation, Governor Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday, unveiled plan by his administration to cultivate 20,000 hectares of land for rice plantation.

He disclosed this during the inauguration of the first phase of the 21km Imasayi-Iboro-Ayetoro road, in Yewa North Local Government Area of the state.

Abiodun hinted that the rice plantation would be located in Yewa North and Imeko Afon Local government areas of the state, adding that the farm would be the largest in Nigeria.

The governor stated that the rice plantation would make the state the rice
capital of the country, submitting that both local and foreign investors have signified interest in partnering with the state on the project.

“Yewa North and Imeko local government areas are known for their agricultural potentials and one of my legacies will be to leave these local government areas and have them defined as truly the bread basket of not just this state, but this nation.

“I have called the Head of Service and the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle that he should challenge all our traditional rulers in this area, we are looking for about 20,000 hectares of land.

“We want to turn this part of Yewa into the rice capital of Nigeria. We already have the investors that have the resources to turn this place into the rice development and rice processing centre in Nigeria and I’m deeply committed to that as that will be one of the legacies of this administration.

“Help us look for the land within the next two weeks and see the wonders that we will perform. Government will not put a dime into it, government will be providing an enabling environment for investors to come and turn this place into the rice capital of Nigeria.

“We will lift up the economic prosperity of this state, it will trickle down down to individual prosperity and the lives of úour people will never remain the same again,” the governor said.

The governor, thereafter, flag off the 14km second phase of the road construction, assuring that the project would be completed in due time.

Abiodun said, “This road is a 21km road and we do not think that it will be excusable for us not to begin the construction of this road because we cannot afford the entire budgetary provision at the time we were awarding it.

“But to demonstrate our commitment and sincerity of purpose, we chose to divide it into two phases to enable us complete the first phase, knowing that such will convince every doubting mind that we are indeed, sincere and committed to ensuring that we provided the needed infrastructure across this corridor.

“So, today, we are here to commission the first phase, which is a 7-kilometer beginning from Imasayi-Iboro to Igan Okoto and by the same token, flag-off the construction of the second phase leading to Ayetoro. This will put-paid to all the rumours from mischief makers. Of course, of what benefit will it be if we commence the road and stop it half way? So, let the mischief makers go and look for another job”.

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