The Ogun State Government,under the leadership of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), through the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme and other stakeholders, has reaffirmed its commitment to agricultural innovation, mechanisation and digital transformation as strategies for enhancing food security and boosting farmers’ productivity.

The commitment was demonstrated during the symbolic presentation of agricultural equipment and inputs, alongside the deployment of 1,240 digital devices to farmer organisations, as the state joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2026 World Food Day, themed “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow,” at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta.

Speaking at the event, Governor Dapo Abiodun commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for placing food security at the centre of his Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the Federal Government’s emphasis on mechanisation, youth inclusion and agricultural modernisation was laying a solid foundation for increased food production and national prosperity.

The Governor stressed that achieving sustainable food security required a transition from traditional farming practices to climate-smart agriculture, supported by improved agricultural inputs, digital advisory services and access to affordable markets.

He maintained that innovation remained central to building a resilient food system capable of meeting the nutritional needs of the population and ensuring that no citizen went hungry.

Abiodun disclosed that his administration had completed 28 agricultural projects in the last two years across crop production, livestock, poultry and storage facilities, while providing direct support to more than 15,000 farmers, including thousands of women farmers.

He added that the state had also supported the cultivation of thousands of hectares of farmland and distributed fertilisers and agricultural equipment to improve productivity and reduce post-harvest losses.

As part of the interventions, a range of agricultural equipment was presented to support mechanised farming and improve efficiency across the rice and cassava value chains.

The equipment comprised eight threshers, eight farm tricycle trailers, eight tricycle-drawn cassava planters, 20 rice planters, eight reapers, 20 rechargeable chemical sprayers, 20 solar-powered irrigation water pumps, eight power trailers and 20 rice transplanters.

In addition, 10,400 cassava farmers were targeted for agricultural input support, with each beneficiary package comprising eight litres of herbicide, two litres of insecticide and 25 bundles of cassava cuttings.

Similarly, 2,810 rice farmers were to benefit from input distribution, with each package comprising 25 kilogrammes of rice seeds, two bags of NPK 15-15-15 fertiliser, one bag of urea, two litres of herbicide and one litre of insecticide.

The deployment of 1,240 digital devices to farmer organisations was another significant highlight of the intervention, reflecting the state government’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve agricultural information management, extension services and farmers’ access to timely and relevant information.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, said the administration of Governor Abiodun was advancing the state’s food security agenda through deliberate investments in youth empowerment, innovation and strategic partnerships.

Owotomo explained that interventions under the SAPZ Programme and other agricultural initiatives were designed to reduce production costs, strengthen farmers’ productive capacity and create employment opportunities across the agricultural value chain.

He emphasised that sustainable food security required the collective efforts of government, farmers, investors, researchers and development partners to establish a resilient agricultural system capable of nourishing the population while driving economic growth.

In his goodwill message, the National Programme Coordinator of the SAPZ Programme, Dr. Kabiru Yusuf, represented by the National Agricultural Expert, Dr. Louis Enaberue, observed that food security went beyond increasing agricultural production.

He explained that it also depended on sustained investment in farmers, access to quality agricultural inputs and equipment, improved technologies, digital agricultural services and reliable markets.

Yusuf further stated that, with the support of development partners, including the European Union and IFAD, the Federal Government would continue to strengthen agricultural value chains, enhance smallholder farmers’ productivity, promote agro-industrial development and create sustainable economic opportunities.

He commended the Ogun State Government for providing an enabling environment for the implementation of the programme and advancing initiatives aimed at improving agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.

Delivering the World Food Day lecture, Professor Kolawole Adebayo of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, described the theme as both figurative and practical, stressing the urgent need for innovation to guarantee the sustainability of food systems and secure the future of food production.

He noted that Ogun State occupied a strategic position in Nigeria’s food security architecture, adding that the Ogun Farmers Information Management System and the SAPZ food bank were important initiatives supporting the state’s contribution to national food supply.

Professor Adebayo emphasised the importance of adopting innovative approaches that would strengthen agricultural information systems, improve food distribution and enhance the resilience of farming communities.

Stakeholders, including farmers’ associations and development partners, commended the state government for its agricultural policies and interventions. They also called for sustained investment in innovation, improved farming technologies and effective post-harvest management to address persistent challenges associated with food losses and climate change.

The celebration featured exhibitions of agricultural produce and innovative farming technologies, as well as the presentation of awards to outstanding farmers in the state.

The event underscored the importance of collaboration, innovation and technology in transforming agriculture, improving farmers’ livelihoods and building a sustainable food system for present and future generations.