The Oyo State Government has thrown more light on the proposed development of portions of the Ogbomoso Farm Settlement.
The state government explained that the initiative is not an attempt to sell the farm settlement but part of a long-term strategic plan to integrate agriculture, housing and economic development.
The Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, in a statement released on Friday, said the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, made the disclosure while explaining the rationale behind the recent notice issued by the ministry concerning portions of land within the Ogbomoso Farm Settlement.
Olaleye said, “The development should be understood within the broader context of the state government’s long-term development plan under the leadership of His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, which prioritises agricultural transformation, food security, employment generation and sustainable economic development.”
According to him, the proposed New Town is designed to complement agricultural productivity, with a major component of the long-term plan being a land-intensive Farm Housing Scheme that will integrate modern agriculture, residential communities and agro-allied industries within a properly planned environment.
He explained that “the initiative is expected to increase agricultural production, create employment opportunities, strengthen agricultural value chains, attract investment and contribute to the state’s food security objectives.”
The commissioner added that “the development is also necessary given the changing realities of the farm settlement, which has, over the years, become surrounded by expanding residential developments within Ogbomoso metropolis.”
He further explained that some existing occupants had remained on portions of the land for several years without the required payments or formal documentation, while some original allottees were deceased.
According to him, the intervention therefore provides an opportunity for the government to properly reorganise, regulate and optimise the use of the land in the public interest.
He stressed that the government’s commitment to agriculture remained unwavering, noting that the administration had continued to implement various interventions aimed at strengthening the sector.
These, according to him, included subsidised tractorisation and agricultural mechanisation; provision of improved seedlings, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs; training of farmers and extension officers in climate-smart agriculture; strengthening of agricultural extension services; promotion of agribusiness, processing and agricultural value chains; improved rural access and agricultural infrastructure through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project; as well as support for farmers, agripreneurs and private-sector investment.
Olaleye maintained that these interventions demonstrated that the present administration was not working against agriculture but was repositioning the sector as a major driver of food security, employment and economic growth.
The commissioner therefore urged the general public, stakeholders and residents of Ogbomoso to disregard misinformation and political interpretations suggesting that the government intended to sell the farm settlement.
He emphasised that the objective was to ensure that the land was put to productive and sustainable use while keeping agriculture at the core of the development.
“The proposed New Town represents an opportunity to integrate agriculture, housing, agro-allied industries and economic opportunities within a properly planned environment that will benefit Ogbomoso and Oyo State at large,” he added.
He appealed to all stakeholders to support development initiatives that would promote agricultural productivity, food security, employment, investment and sustainable economic growth.
