The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate for the Oyo State House of Assembly in Saki West, Hon. Salaudeen Kabeer Adebayo, has empowered more than 400 farmers in the constituency as part of efforts to support agricultural production and improve food security.
The intervention, which marked the eighth edition of Adebayo’s agricultural empowerment programme, was held during the current farming season and featured the distribution of farm inputs and modern agricultural tools to beneficiaries.
Speaking at the event, Adebayo said the initiative was driven by his concern for the welfare of farmers and was not motivated by political or campaign considerations.
He said the programme was designed to ease the burden on farmers, provide them with essential support and improve their productivity, with the ultimate goal of increasing food production and ensuring food security in the community.
According to him, stronger collaboration among relevant stakeholders is required to unlock the potential of agriculture and move the country towards food sufficiency and surplus production.
The beneficiaries commended Adebayo for what they described as his continued support for farmers and other members of the community, particularly at a period when the cost of agricultural inputs has continued to challenge farmers.
One of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Mikail Adesina, described Adebayo as a longstanding supporter of farmers, youths, students and women in the community, noting that his interventions had extended beyond agriculture through his Hope Never Dies non-governmental organisation.
Another beneficiary, Mr Muideen Osasolo, expressed appreciation for the provision of farm tools and seedlings, saying the intervention had made farming easier and provided farmers with resources to improve their output.
Osasolo urged beneficiaries to make productive use of the materials provided rather than selling them, stressing that the sustainability of the programme depended partly on the responsible utilisation of the inputs.
He also called on residents of Saki West to carefully consider the interests of the constituency when making political choices in forthcoming elections.
A beneficiary of the seventh edition of the programme also shared his experience, saying the seeds he received previously yielded within a month and some weeks.
According to him, the harvest provided food for his family, including tuwo, while proceeds from the sale of part of the produce enabled him to generate more than ₦50,000.
He said the experience demonstrated the potential impact of timely intervention in agriculture, particularly when farmers receive the necessary inputs at the appropriate period of the farming season.
The event was attended by the APM Chairman, the Leader of the Saki West Legislative Arm, councillors representing various wards in Saki West, the Chairman of Gboro Community, Baale Agbe, Prince Lawal Adebowale, representatives of Indorama, party members, as well as women and youth leaders, among others.
