The Ogun State Government has unveiled a major agricultural support package for 10,000 rice and cassava farmers, distributing tractors, farm equipment, subsidised inputs and digital devices as part of its 2026 World Food Day celebrations. According to BusinessDay and the News Agency of Nigeria, Governor Dapo Abiodun announced the intervention on 16 October at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, under the theme “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow”. Implemented in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development through the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme, the initiative is designed to improve farm productivity, reduce production costs and strengthen food security.
Under the programme, 2,000 rice farmers and 8,000 cassava farmers are expected to receive fertilisers and urea, alongside herbicides, while cassava farmers will also receive improved planting materials. The government is providing 10 tractors and additional equipment, including rice planters, transplanters, threshers and farm trailers, to support mechanised farming across farm settlements and farmers’ associations. A further 1,200 Android phones equipped with applications for weather updates, market prices and improved farming practices will help beneficiaries make better production decisions and connect with agricultural markets. According to Channels Television, the state said the intervention forms part of a broader effort to modernise agriculture through mechanisation, digital technology and improved access to farm inputs.
The announcement also highlights Ogun’s wider ambitions to develop its agricultural value chain, expand local processing and attract private investment. Abiodun said the state had completed 28 agricultural projects over the preceding two years, including solar dryers, warehouses, cassava processing centres and a poultry processing facility in Ajegunle Farm Settlement, Odeda, with capacity to handle 5,000 birds daily. The governor also cited the procurement of 39 tractors and four self-propelled harvesters, while more than 200 young people have received training in soilless farming with start-up support. These investments could strengthen Ogun’s contribution to Nigeria’s food supply, but their long-term impact will depend on sustained access to equipment, effective distribution of inputs, reliable market connections and measurable improvements in farmers’ yields and incomes.
