The Ogun State Government has flagged off the harvest of 1,400 metric tonnes of rice from a 200-hectare rice plantation in Magboro, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, who officiated the event, announced plans to expand the farm from 200 hectares to 2,000 hectares, aiming to enhance food security and self-sufficiency in the state.
Governor Abiodun encouraged the youth to embrace agriculture, emphasizing its role in ensuring food security and boosting economic development. He promised infrastructure development to support both state and federal agricultural initiatives.
The rice farm project involves 200 farmers, predominantly women and youths from across Nigeria.
Each farmer manages one hectare of land, and with a three-month growing cycle, the farm is expected to yield approximately 1,400 metric tonnes of rice per harvest, translating to around 20,000 bags of milled rice valued at N1 billion per cycle.
The farm operates on a cycle of three harvests per year, which could generate up to N3 billion annually for the farmers.
Governor Abiodun expressed optimism about scaling up the project, estimating that the expansion to 2,000 hectares could generate up to N30 billion in revenue, positioning Ogun State as a key contributor to the nation’s food supply.
The project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to eliminate hunger and poverty by increasing affordable food production. Governor Abiodun highlighted the importance of agriculture in his administration, noting the state’s wealth of manpower and natural resources.
The Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) will support farmers with modern agricultural techniques, quality seeds, irrigation, and technical training at subsidized rates, further boosting agricultural productivity in the state.
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