Oyetola Inaugurates Vegetable Farmers Empowerment Programme, Lauds Women in Agriculture

Osun State governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola on Thursday commended Osun women for embracing agriculture both at vocational and professional levels.

Speaking at the inauguration of Women in Agriculture – (Vegetable Farmers Empowerment Scheme) powered by Ilerioluwa Development Initiative, IOD-Initiative, Oyetola noted that gone are the days when farming was a prerogative of men alone.

Oyetola who was glad that one of his priority program is receiving a boost,
explained that the nutrients embedded in vegetables consumption cannot be over emphasized.

The Governor admonished the farmers to take it as a business adding that it serves as a means of livelihood.

While emphasising the importance of agriculture, particularly vegetable to human existence, the governor enjoined the beneficiaries of the scheme to make the best use of the opportunities and ensure prompt repayment of loans disbursed for others to benefit.

Also speaking, the initiator and President of Ilerioluwa Development Initiative, (IOD-Initiative) who is also the wife of the governor, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola said the Vegetable Farmers Scheme is just a fractional aspect of the agricultural empowerment chain programme of IOD-initiative.

According to her, the focus on Vegetable as the first tranche of the Foundation’s agricultural empowerment chain was informed by the crucial nutritional value of vegetables.

She explained that the scheme was in three modules that include training, distribution of seed and access to revolving loan envelope which each of the amazons would benefit in order to boost the production in their farms.

Mrs Oyetola gave kudos to her initiative’s development partners that include All Farmers Association of Nigeria AFAN, Agrik Matas and Access Bank Plc for their support.

She disclosed that her Foundation will soon unfold the next level of IOD-Initiative Agricultural Empowerment Program which would cover other categories of farming activities that women engage in.

Earlier, Chairman, Osun Farmers Association, Mr. Kayode Afolabi eulogised the giant step of the first lady in changing the orientation of farmers to yield bountifully.

He noted that the scheme is a Direct Impact Intervention Programme.

The vegetables which includes seeds of spinach, okro, pepper among others were later distributed to farmers drawn across the local governments of the state.