Oyo State Government has begun the distribution of over 16 thousand bags of Maize grain to 1691 poultry farmers across the state under the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) to cushion the effect of subsidy removal and to enhance poultry business in the state.
Unveiling the distribution of the grains on friday at Ibadan South West Local Government premises, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye revealed that the move was for food security under SAfER programme to alleviate suffering arising from the subsidy removal on petrol (PMS) in the country.
The Commissioner who is a member of Oyo State Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER), hinted that free maize grains distribution to poultry farmers in the state would go along way in alleviating problem of high cost of poultry feeds and availability of maize input in the poultry business.
Olasunkanmi equally explained that the beneficiaries of free maize distribution were selected from the 33 local governments in the state, stressing that this was part of government’s effort in bringing down cost of poultry product, allow poultry farmers to remain in business and for Oyo State to maintaine first in poultry business.
Admonishing the beneficiaries to make good use of the intervention inputs, the Commissioner explained that each beneficiaries would go home with 8 bags of 50kg each of maize grains and total of 1691 poultry farmers would benefit from the first phase that would run through the weeks.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Ibadan North West Local Government, Hon. Rahman Adepoju commended government of Oyo State for being compassionate to the people of the state most especially in this hard period facing the country, saying the first phase of palliative done in the state could not be compared with other states.
He therefore enjoined the beneficiaries (poultry farmers) to ensure the free grains to have effect on poultry business to the citizen of the state and the country at large.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria(PAN), Oyo State Chapter, Mr. Wole Olulade expressed the association’s gratitude to the state government under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde for his magnanimousity towards the poultry farmers and farmers at large in the state, noting that the high cost of poutry inputs have made many poultry farmers to quite the business adding that this good gesture would go a long way in sustaining people in the poultry business.
Thanking government on behalf of the beneficiaries in the state, the Chairman, Turkey Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Akinwande Ilori and Mrs. Salamontu Janet pledged to make use of the grains as this would encouraged poultry farmers to continue in the business as well as to reduce hardship faced by the farmers in the state.
