Oyo claims agricultural investment slashed food prices

The Oyo State Government on Thursday said it has made significant progress in food production through deliberate agricultural interventions that have lowered food prices and boosted farmers’ productivity across the state.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, disclosed this while receiving the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, who paid him a courtesy visit on his birthday.

Olaleye said the state has achieved massive gains in agricultural output over the last three years, attributing the progress to Governor Seyi Makinde’s consistent investments in mechanised farming, seed distribution, fertiliser support, and training for farmers.

He explained that the prices of key food items have dropped drastically due to the government’s sustained agricultural programmes.

“Cassava price was about N600,000 per truck three years ago, but today it’s less than N150,000 because of massive investments in agriculture by this administration,” he said.

The commissioner highlighted four major interventions that have transformed the state’s agricultural landscape: the distribution of 65,000 bundles of cassava stems to farmers; provision of hybrid and high-yield seeds; free fertiliser supply; and the state’s tractorisation programme.

Under the tractorisation initiative, the government covers 50 per cent of the ploughing cost for farmers.

If a farmer intends to plough 20 acres, the government pays for 10 acres. That means those who could only cultivate 10 acres before are now able to do 20. The effect has been massive food production across the state,” he said.

Olaleye added that more than 7,000 farmers have benefited from this year’s round of government-supported mechanised farming, with over 21,000 acres of farmland cultivated so far this year compared to 6,000 acres last year.

He also revealed that over 12,000 bags of fertiliser have been distributed to farmers free of charge, with nearly 6,000 farmers benefiting. Depending on their farm sizes, beneficiaries received between two and five bags each.

“By removing the burden of fertiliser and ploughing costs, the government has made farming easier and cheaper. This has helped farmers to expand their operations and lower the cost of production,” he said.

In addition, the commissioner noted that between November and April, about 4,800 farmers were trained on modern farming techniques — including proper seed timing, fertiliser application, and pest control — a move that has improved both efficiency and yield.

Olaleye also disclosed that more than 20,000 tonnes of cassava have been exported through the Ibarapa axis alone, signifying the government’s intention to impose a tax regime on the exportation.

He further revealed that the state had achieved remarkable success in animal husbandry, following the free vaccination exercise for over 120,000 cattle, and 89,000 sheep and goats.

“We recorded a sharp reduction in livestock mortality this year, and our farmers are smiling.
“The ministry has also extended support to poultry and piggery farmers through the free distribution of animal feed,” he said.

Speaking on the government’s Social and Economic Recovery Programme, Olaleye said most of the agricultural interventions were designed as part of efforts to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on citizens.

“The tractorisation and input distribution initiatives were all designed as a response to the rising cost of transportation and food items that followed the removal of subsidies,” he stated.

The commissioner said the government remains strongly committed to sustaining the agricultural transformation agenda, stressing that the ultimate goal is to make Oyo State a leading food-producing hub in Nigeria.

Oyo State has in recent years increased investment in agriculture under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, positioning the sector as a major driver of economic growth and job creation. The government’s agricultural agenda emphasises mechanisation, access to farm inputs, and youth participation in modern farming.

One of the state’s key initiatives is the tractorisation scheme, which provides a 50 per cent subsidy on land ploughing costs to support smallholder farmers.

The programme is designed to encourage large-scale cultivation and improve productivity. The government has also trained young people in tractor operation and farm management to boost the availability of skilled labour in the agricultural sector.

These interventions are part of the administration’s wider plan to strengthen food production and reduce dependence on imported staples.

Nationally, Nigeria’s food inflation rate stood at 16.87 per cent in September 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The Federal Government and several states, including Oyo, have been implementing support measures aimed at ensuring food security and easing the pressure of rising living costs.