OGBOMOSO FARM SETTLEMENT: OYO GOVT CLARIFIES NEW TOWN PLAN, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO AGRICULTURE

Written by Adesoji Olusegun
Media Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Oyo State


OGBOMOSO FARM SETTLEMENT: OYO GOVT CLARIFIES NEW TOWN PLAN, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO AGRICULTURE

Government says proposed development will integrate agriculture, housing and agro-allied industries, dismisses claims of farm settlement sale

The Oyo State Government has clarified that the proposed development of portions of land within the Ogbomoso Farm Settlement is part of a broader long-term strategy to integrate agriculture, housing and economic development, stressing that the initiative should not be misconstrued as an attempt to sell the farm settlement.

The clarification followed the recent notice issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development concerning portions of land within the Ogbomoso Farm Settlement.

The Government explained that the proposed New Town forms part of a strategic development plan designed to complement agricultural productivity while providing a properly planned environment for residential communities, modern agriculture and agro-allied industries.

A major component of the long-term plan is the development of a land-intensive Farm Housing Scheme, which is expected to integrate agricultural production with housing and agro-industrial activities.

According to the Government, the initiative is expected to boost agricultural production, create employment opportunities, strengthen agricultural value chains, attract investment and contribute to the State’s food security objectives.

The development is also considered necessary in view of the changing realities surrounding the farm settlement, which has, over the years, become increasingly surrounded by expanding residential developments within the Ogbomoso metropolis.

Some occupants have also remained on portions of the land for several years without the required payments or formal documentation, while some original allottees are deceased.

The intervention, therefore, provides an opportunity to properly reorganise, regulate and optimise the use of the land in the public interest, while ensuring that agriculture remains an integral part of the development plan.

Agriculture Remains a Priority

The Oyo State Government’s commitment to agriculture is evident in its various interventions aimed at improving productivity, supporting farmers and strengthening the agricultural value chain.

These include 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 (RAAMP); as well as support for farmers, agripreneurs and private-sector investment.

These interventions demonstrate that the present administration is not working against agriculture but is repositioning the sector as a major driver of food security, employment generation and sustainable economic growth.

No Plan to Sell Farm Settlement

The Government has consequently urged members of the public, agricultural stakeholders and residents of Ogbomoso to disregard misinformation and political interpretations suggesting that the farm settlement is being sold.

Rather, the objective is to ensure that the land is put to productive, sustainable and properly planned use, while agriculture remains at the core of the development.

The proposed New Town presents an opportunity to create a well-planned environment where agriculture, housing, agro-allied industries and other economic activities can coexist and contribute to the socio-economic development of Ogbomoso and Oyo State.

The initiative is expected to unlock the economic potential of the area, create new opportunities for employment and investment, strengthen agricultural value chains and support the State’s broader food security and economic development agenda.

The Government therefore appealed to all stakeholders to support development initiatives that promote agricultural productivity, food security, employment, investment and sustainable economic growth.

The Ogbomoso Farm Settlement, it stressed, is not being abandoned for agriculture; rather, the proposed development is aimed at ensuring that its land resources are better organised and utilised in a manner that serves the present and future needs of the people.

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