Hardship: Ex- Governorship Aspirant, Babayemi Launches N50million Agric Projects In Osun

Atunto Osun group under the leadership of Omooba Dotun Babayemi, a former governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has entered into partnership with the Nigeria Soyabeans Association, and Agbajowo Farmer Association in the state for the cultivation and production of cash crops across the 31 local government areas of the state.

The multi-million naira project under Atunto Osun Agricultural Initiatives coordinated by the Chairman of Atunto Osun Support Group, Engr Olutade Mayowa Olusesan,is aimed at stemming the inflationary trend in the state through agricultural interventions.

It would be recalled that on Thursday, December 7,2023, Atunto Osun was launched with over 20,000 in attendance while on Wednesday February 7,2024,the Atunto Osun Multipurpose Cooperative Society was flagged off with N10m invested to empower the people of Iwo Local Government.

At the weekend, the agricultural initiative being embarked upon by the group with a view to enhancing the availability of food in the state and the nation, took off.

The scheme which is projected to gulp over N50m, was kick-started at the weekend in Osogbo which falls under Osun Central and attended by stakeholders.

Speaking at the flag off of the colourful event, the Coordinator of the program, Engr Olutade Olusesan, asserted that in order to ensure the success of the initiative, tripartite agreements were reached with the state chapters of Nigerian Soyabean Association led by Chief Francis Adeoye and Agbajowo Farmers Association under the leadership of Mr Asimiyu Tadese Ademola.

According to Olusesan, the philosophy of the program is to aid food production and reduce inflationary biting cost of food items with millions of people being targeted beneficiaries in and outside the state.

“This initiative is a cutting edge aimed at reaching out at the teeming populace out there.Hunger knows no religion, political party or tribe.So the purpose is to contribute our own quota through practical steps and not just mere talks. It’s a huge investment but it’s worth doing for the people,especially at this critical phase of our economy” said Olusesan

“For a seamless administration of the farms involved across the state,
Soyabeans and Agbajowo Farmers Associations would engage in on-fields supervision and monitoring of the farms in the three senatorial districts” he further asserted

Speaking on behalf of the other association, the state Chairman of the Nigerian Soyabean Association, Chief Francis Adeoye, commended Omooba Dotun Babayemi for the selflessness in his pursuits, urging others to emulate him.

Adeoye urged that agriculture must be prioritized for the nation’s economy to stabilize; stressing, “that’s the main key that can see to the desired growth and development of our dear state and country.The second and equally important, is good governance. We need these and every other things will fall in line”