Ogun Cares FADAMA RA 2 is an intervention of the State Government in collaboration with Federal Government and the World Bank, aimed at restoring the livelihood of the poor and the vulnerable farmers, maintaining food security by giving grants to them and those in agricultural value chain, affected by COVID--19 pandemic and targeting to assist over 20,000 farmers across the State within two years, hence the capacity building for a successful implementation.
Declaring the event open, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina noted that the future is bright for Ogun State in the area of agriculture and industrialization, which will culminate into food sufficiency, job creation and revenue generation, so, the capacity building was to equip and guide the facilitators and technical assistants to deliver maximally.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Dotun Sorunke, the Commissioner further told the participants to imbibe what they are being taught for effectiveness and productivity.
"We put up this capacity building programme because we want you all to be transformed and we don't want you to miss the road, so you don't mislead the farmers. You can only give what you know because if you learn good thing, you will produce good thing. Your work will also involve gathering of information and data capturing, so you need to be attentive and make use of every knowledge gained", he said.
While giving the overview of the technical section, the Project Manager, Mrs Solape Awe harped on the importance of trainings to farmers through the extension officers, charging them to be well trained and up-to-date in best agricultural practices so as to inculcate same to the farmers.
She enjoined them to keep abreast of climate smart agriculture, timely delivery and good agronomic practices as well as quality agro-input, telling them to show preference to small holder farmers, women, youths and people living with disabilities.
Trainings were given technical section by various different Project Implementation Officers on criteria for beneficiary selection, profiling and mapping, environment issues, among others.
Giving his vote of thanks on behalf of the participants, Mr. Oluwafemi Fagbenro from Imeko-Afon Local Government, said the capacity building was apt as it had saddled them with more knowledge and skills that would enable them get the farmers' profile for disbursement, thanking the Project Manager for organizing the training.
Meanwhile, the Project Manager and her team in the past few months had taken sensitization programme to virtually all the Local Government Areas of the State, aiming to start the pilot scheme of the project in Obafemi-Owode, Odogbolu, Ijebu-North, Yewa-North, Odeda and Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Areas.
