N7.6bn CBN Loan: Makinde Set to Begin Work On Akufo, Eruwa Farm Estate Projects

Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde on Wednesday said with the signing into law of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency bill, ( OYSADA) work would soon begin on the Farm Estates at Eruwa and Akufo respectively.

The governor disclosed this during the signing ceremony  of  OYSADA bill  which took place at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, the state capital.

He emphasized that the signing of the Agency bill into law would allow the Agency, which is based in Saki, to start work fully and to kickstart the operation of the Farm Estates’ projects in Eruwa in Ibarapa axis and Akufo, Ibadan.

The Oyo State House of Assembly had earlier approved the request of Governor Seyi Makinde to access N7.6 billion agricultural loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN.) around October 2019.

Meanwhile, the governor had requested to access the loan to develop Akufo and Eruwa farm settlements into farm estates in the state.

Speaking further at the event, Governor Makinde said: “I have just signed the law to make provision for the establishment, composition and powers of the Oyo State Agribusiness Agency and every other matters connected therewith.

“Agribusiness is one of the cardinal programmes of this administration and what we have done today is to give a legal backing to Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency.

“With the signing into law of the Agency bill, they are now free to start business as OYSADA. They will be based in Saki and they will be starting the first two projects as soon as possible. The first is the Farm Estate at Eruwa and the second is the farm estate at Akufo. So, I thank you for coming to witness this signing ceremony”.

In a statement signed by the governor’s media aide, Taiwo Adisa,  Makinde  informed that the state government decided to sign off on the bill at this critical time in readiness for the expected boom in its economy through the derivable benefits from agribusiness initiatives.

Giving further insights into the advantages the state stands to gain from the Agency, the governor said: “The agency aims to develop the strategy, coordinate, and implement Agribusiness Investments and projects in the State through public, private and development partnerships.

“It will also enhance the optimisation of agro-food value chain business within Oyo state through an agricultural ecosystem that strengthens productivity, value chain growth and the processing and packaging of agro-based production.

“The Agency will support the State’s economic growth through engagement in domestic trade in agro-food by import substitution and exportation of nutritious processed and package agro-based products.

“Another benefit derivable from the Agency is that it will promote engagement of youth in agriculture through the development of agribusiness enterprises from downstream, midstream to the upstream of the agricultural sector.”