Banishing Hunger, Poverty Remains Our Top Priority-Aregbesola

..Says Osun is Determined to Create Wealth through Viable Agriculture

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has reiterated his commitment to banishing hunger and poverty in the state as part of Six Integral Action Plan.

Aregbesola also stated that he would not renege on his promise to ensure all-round development by creating wealth, empowering youths and generate employment through participatory agricultural engagement.

The Governor stated this while addressing farmers during a get-together meeting tagged “Abekoko”, at Alaye Village, Irewole Local Government Area of the state, on Thursday.

Describing the farmers as kings in agriculture and food security, Aregbesola said his administration had come up with a life-changing policy that would continuously transforming the lives of the rural dwellers.

The Governor further disclosed that the current administration under his watch had since assumption office taken seriously the significance of farmers in all it does most especially towards a sustainable economic development of the state.

Governor Aregbesola who vowed not to relent in his efforts in banishing all forms of poverty, hunger and unemployment, however restated his government’s decision to build and strengthen a formidable beneficial relationship with farmers so as to enhance the level of agricultural productivity in the state.

Aregbesola said his government through his genuinely-designed policies and programmes had repositioned agricultural sector in the state.

He said with his prompt intervention on revolutionary agricultural development, the production capacity of the state had drastically improved over the years.

Aregbesola adulated his government for being conscious on the well being of the rural dwellers especially the farmers, saying his administration has succeeded in its bid of revamping agricultural sector.

The Governor emphasized that the state has been in partnership with different groups to promote agricultural production of the state, just as he attributed strides recently recorded to the effects of the mutually benficial relationship.

He stressed that the present administration under his leadership had constructed, reconstructed and rehabilitated several kilometers of roads in the rural areas through Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (O’RAMP) in order to ease transportation of goods and other farm produce from rural communities to urban centres.

Aregbesola who said his government was committed to maintenance of rural roads, however promised farmers in the state of adequate provision of social amenities and accessible roads across the length and breath of the rural areas.

The Governor also told the farmers at the meeting that his government would aid the activities of their community by constructing the main road linking the dwellers together in the next few months.

According to him, “Our commitment is to stamp-out the scourge of poverty in the state and ensure that Osun becomes the food basket of the nation.

“In achieving this lofty initiative, our government had entered into partnership with agricultural investors in order to boost the volume of our agricultural productivity and as well improve the general well being of our farmers.

“We shall champion our goals in building an enviable structure, creating wealth, empowering youths and generating employment through participatory agricultural engagement.

“It is on this clear objective that we are determined in our efforts to banishing all forms of poverty, hunger and unemployment by building and strengthening a formidable beneficial relationship with farmers so as to enhance the level of agricultural productivity in the state.

“We have constructed, reconstructed and rehabilitated several kilometers of roads in the rural areas through Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (O’RAMP) in order to ease transportation of goods and other farm produce from rural communities to urban centres”, he stated.

Governor Aregbesola therefore used the occasion to appealed to the farmers who benefited from the loans provided by the state to refund in accordance with the agreement without further delay , saying the gesture would pave way for others.

Meanwhile, some of the farmers who spoke intermittently commended Governor Aregbesola for being committed to the welfare of farmers in the state.

They also lauded the Governor for being resolute towards the transformation of the state even in the face of the present financial hardship.

The farmers who requested for basic amenities, however urged the state government not to loose focus in its resolve to better the lives of the citizenry especially the rural dwellers.