Mr. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, has praised President Bola Tinubu for approving a 50% reduction in the cost of agricultural inputs for farmers in Nigeria ahead of the dry season farming.
Oyintiloye expressed his appreciation, stating that the subsidy on farm inputs would support farmers in increasing production, contributing to enhanced food availability at affordable prices for the population. He highlighted the announcement made by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, on November 25, regarding the federal government’s plan to provide a 50% input subsidy to support 250,000 wheat farmers during the dry season.
Speaking in Osogbo on Sunday, Oyintiloye emphasized the potential positive impact of President Tinubu’s intervention on food security, private sector investment, and the reduction of post-harvest losses. He noted that the country’s current food inflation rate, as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics, stands at 31.5%.
Oyintiloye commended Tinubu’s commitment to agricultural interventions, including initiatives related to fertilizers, improved seeds, agricultural mechanization, and grants. He expressed optimism that these interventions would result in positive changes in food prices and lead to surpluses in the coming days.
While praising the president’s efforts, Oyintiloye urged the federal government to establish direct communication channels with subsistence and large-scale farmers, as well as other stakeholders in the agriculture sector through their respective associations. This, he believes, would facilitate easy access to government intervention programs, ultimately contributing to Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in agricultural produce.