Ogun State Boosts Food Security by Empowering 4,316 Farmers with Home Gardening Toolkits
Ogun State has taken a major step toward strengthening food security by empowering 4,316 smallholder farmers with home gardening toolkits and improved planting materials under its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme. The initiative, flagged off in Odogbolu, aims to enhance rural livelihoods by equipping farmers with the tools needed to boost household food production and income.
Speaking at the launch, Commissioner for Agriculture Bolu Owotomo, representing Governor Dapo Abiodun, emphasized that the programme was designed to promote community-driven agricultural productivity. “This initiative is a practical step toward food security at the household level,” Owotomo said. “We are giving not just tools, but a seed of independence that will grow into a culture of productivity across our homes.” Beneficiaries received seeds for okra, tomatoes, peppers, amaranthus, ewedu, pawpaw, and more, along with germination trays, grow bags, organic fertilizers, insecticides, and gardening tools.
Owotomo highlighted the rising global food insecurity and nutritional challenges, underlining the importance of resilient, community-based food systems. The current phase of the SAPZ programme targets Obafemi Owode, Odogbolu, Ijebu-East, and Yewa-North local government areas, with plans to expand to other councils in subsequent phases. He urged beneficiaries to take ownership of the materials and use them to improve nutrition and household income.
Local government leaders also praised the initiative. Babatunde Diya, Chairman of Odogbolu, described it as a strategy to nurture a new generation of agripreneurs, noting that the council had donated 400 hectares of land to support landless youths and women in agribusiness. SAPZ Coordinator Kehinde Jokotoye added that the programme particularly targets women, who are essential for household nutrition and stability, and cautioned against selling the toolkits, emphasizing their value for sustainable livelihoods.
Farmers received hands-on training from resource experts on how to use the materials effectively and adopt best agronomic practices. Beneficiaries such as MSunamite Atobisan and Okepopo Bolanle expressed gratitude to the government, pledging to leverage the tools to enhance household nutrition and income. The SAPZ programme is implemented in partnership with the Federal Government, the African Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Ogun State Government.
source: punch