By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Over 16,000 bags of maize have been distributed to poultry farmers in Oyo State through the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) initiative of the state government.
The distribution of the grains was to alleviate suffering arising from the subsidy removal on premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, in the country.
At the disbursement of the items in Ibadan last Friday, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye, disclosed that a total of 1,691 farmers would benefit from the gesture.
Speaking at the premises of the Ibadan South West Local Government, Mr Olaleye said the grains would cushion the hardship induced by the removal of fuel subsidy and increase in the pump price of petrol.
The Commissioner, who is also a member of the Oyo State SAfER programme, hinted that the free maize grains distribution to poultry farmers in the state would go a long way in alleviating the problem of the high cost of poultry feeds and availability of maize input in the poultry business.
He equally explained that the beneficiaries were selected from the 33 local governments in the state, stressing that this was part of the government’s effort to bring down the cost of poultry products, ensure poultry farmers remain in business and for Oyo State to maintain its first position in the poultry business.
Admonishing the beneficiaries to make good use of the intervention inputs, the Commissioner explained that each beneficiary would go home with eight bags of 50kg maize grains, while a total of 1691 poultry farmers would benefit from the first phase that would run through the weeks.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Ibadan North West Local Government, Mr Rahman Adepoju, commended the government for being compassionate to the people of the state, most especially in this hard period facing the country.
He, therefore, urged the beneficiaries (poultry farmers) to ensure that free grains have positive effects on the poultry business in the state and the country at large.
Speaking on behalf of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Oyo State Chapter, Mr Wole Olulade, expressed the association’s gratitude to the state government, noting that the high cost of poultry inputs has made many poultry farmers quit the business, adding that the gesture would go a long way in sustaining people in the poultry business.
Also, the Chairman of the Turkey Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr Akinwumi Akinwande Ilori, pledged to make use of the grains as this would encourage poultry farmers to continue in the business and reduce hardship faced by farmers in the state.
Adedapo Adesanya