The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday, said the establishment of farm labs (settlements) across the country is the only panacea to ensure food sufficiency for the people.
The governor stated that with the current situation in the country, it is time for Nigerians to embrace agriculture and form the habit of eating what they grow and growing what they eat.
Prince Abiodun spoke during a visit to the Soilless Farm Lab, located at Awowo in the Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.
While relating the Farm Lab to a similar initiative he saw some years ago in Israel, where people work, live, worship, and play in a farm settlement, Prince Abiodun said the Soilless initiative is an inspiring model that should be replicated across the country.
He noted that he would encourage the setting up of similar settlements in other parts of the state, adding that it is one initiative that the federal government would support.
“We are going to support the Chief Executive Officer of this project and the trainees, and we are going to replicate this in Ogun State, and I believe that other states would also key into it as it would solve food problems and unemployment,” the governor noted.
Governor Abiodun also announced that the state government has waived the payment of any form of fees for the issuance of all title documents to encourage the promoters of the Farm Lab.
Prince Abiodun also announced a donation of N20 million to the farm trainees on behalf of the state government.
