The Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has unveiled its remarkable accomplishments under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde.
The ministry has made significant strides in various sectors of agricultural development, including veterinary services, rural development, extension services, capacity building, and infrastructure development.
Speaking at the opening day of the 2025 Ministerial Briefing, the Honourable Commissioner For Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, expressed profound appreciation to the governor for his consistent support and acknowledged the collective efforts of dedicated staff, development partners, farmers, and all stakeholders.
He said that the ministry has successfully vaccinated 95,948 cattle against Anthrax and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and conducted comprehensive inspections of livestock destined for human consumption to ensure food safety.
His words: “The successes we celebrate today are a testament to what is achievable when leadership vision meets professional dedication and community participation.
“Our veterinary services have demonstrated exceptional commitment to livestock health protection,”
He added that this proactive approach has significantly reduced livestock mortality rates and protected farmers’ investments while safeguarding public health through the prevention of zoonotic diseases.
Olaleye also said that the ministry has also constructed 87.53 kilometers of strategic roads across multiple local governments and upgraded three critical rural markets to enhance agricultural trade.
He added that the Tractorization Subsidy Program has provided 50% tractorization subsidies to 1,487 farmers in 2024, resulting in 6,090 acres of farmland being ploughed.
He said as of June 10, 2025, 13,077.10 acres have already been ploughed for 2,827 farmers as the ministry works toward its ambitious target of 120,000 acres for the year.
He said the ministry’s collaborations with development partners have yielded significant results, with over 24,800 beneficiaries reached through training programs focusing on crop production, value addition, agribusiness development, and sustainable farming practices.
He said these programs have been implemented in partnership with organizations such as the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and West Africa Virus Epidemiology (WAVE).
Olaleye emphasized the importance of these collaborations, saying, “These achievements represent a comprehensive approach to agricultural development that addresses every aspect of the value chain – from input supply and production support to processing, marketing, and capacity building.”
He noted that the ministry’s programs have directly impacted tens of thousands of farmers while building the infrastructure and institutional capacity needed for sustainable agricultural growth in Oyo State.
He said the ministry’s commitment to human capital development is also evident in its recruitment of 20 veterinary doctors and 141 agricultural officers across various cadres. He added that this move ensures adequate professional support for the ministry’s expanding programs and services.
He added that the achievements demonstrate the ministry’s commitment to agricultural development and its potential to make Oyo State a leading agricultural hub in Nigeria.
His words: “The combination of technical services, infrastructure development, and human capital investment positions our state as a leader in agricultural innovation and food security in Nigeria.”
