Ogun State has joined the league of large scale rice-producing states in the country with the flagging off of the harvest of 200 hectares of farmland at Magboro Rice Farm in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state.
In order to promote Agriculture, achieve economic growth and development and to enhance food security, Ogun State Government through its Economic Transformation Project, supported by the World Bank established the rice farm in the state.
Speaking during the harvest of the 200 hectares rice farm, Governor Dapo Abiodun said, Ogun State is not only joining states like Lagos, Kebbi, and Bayelsa in producing locally grown rice in large quantity, but also fostering economic development, creating jobs, and improving livelihoods within the communities.
Governor Abiodun said the farm with a seven metric ton yield per hectare could translate to 1,400 metric tons for 200 hectares of milled rice with an efficiency yield of about 70% which could also translate to about 20,000 bags of milled rice per cycle.
The governor added that the project is in line with President Bola Tinubu administration’s resolve to eradicate poverty and hunger by providing affordable food to Nigerians, adding that the project, apart from increasing rice production, would also address animal husbandry.
Other speakers at the Programme emphasized that the state is blessed with adequate manpower and natural resources, stating that agriculture remains an important agenda of his administration as it provides employment and raw materials for the numerous industries that abound in the state.
