Hon. Sanda Sikiru Oyedele, the Executive Chairman of Egbeda Local Government, and Hon. Olayiwola Tunde Taoreed, the Executive Chairman of Irepo Local Government, have attended a two-day conference on food security at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan.
The conference, which was organized by the office of the Vice President, focused on strengthening food production in the country.
The chairmen of Egbeda and Irepo local governments were among the delegates from the South West states who participated in the conference.
The conference addressed various aspects of the agricultural sector, including food production, distribution, and marketing.
Following the conference, both chairmen vowed to redouble their efforts in strengthening the agricultural sector in their respective local governments.
Hon. Sanda Sikiru Oyedele emphasized the need to increase food production, stating, “Food security is a top priority for our local government.”
“We recognize that agriculture plays a vital role in our local economy, and we will work closely with farmers and other stakeholders to ensure that we are producing enough food to meet the needs of our people,” Oyedele added.
Hon. Olayiwola Tunde Taoreed expressed his commitment to improving the agricultural sector in Irepo Local Government. “We are committed to providing the necessary support to our farmers to enable them to increase their productivity and income,” Taoreed said.
Both chairmen acknowledged the importance of collaboration among the different tiers of government in addressing food security, saying, “Food security is not a problem that can be solved by one level of government alone.”
“It requires a concerted effort from the federal, state, and local governments. We must work together to develop policies and programs that will support the growth of the agricultural sector and ensure that our people have access to nutritious and affordable food.”
The conference provided a valuable opportunity for local government leaders to share their experiences and best practices in food security, paving the way for greater collaboration and progress in the agricultural sector.
The local government chairmen also highlighted the importance of partnerships with private sector stakeholders and non-governmental organizations in addressing food security.
“We must leverage the expertise and resources of the private sector and NGOs to develop innovative solutions to the challenges facing our agricultural sector,” Taoreed stated.
Oyedele and Taoreed emphasized the need to invest in research and development in agriculture, particularly in the areas of climate-smart farming practices and post-harvest management.
“We must support our farmers in adapting to the changing climate and adopt farming practices that will increase their resilience to extreme weather events,” Oyedele said.
The chairmen also acknowledged the importance of improving access to financing for smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of the agricultural sector in Nigeria.
“Many smallholder farmers lack access to credit and other financial services, which hinders their ability to invest in their farms and expand their operations,” Taoreed explained.
Following the conference, the chairmen of Egbeda and Irepo local governments said that they remained committed to developing action plans to address food security challenges in their respective localities.
Oyedele outlined a plan to promote sustainable agriculture practices, strengthen farmer organizations, and support agro-processing and value addition in Egbeda Local Government.
