The Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) is set to engage 40,000 smallholder farmers to ensure sustainable agricultural development. OGSTEP, a five-year Public-Private Partnership World Bank-assisted initiative, will enhance agricultural development, job creation, food security and economic empowerment in the 20 local government areas, according to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Dotun Sorunke, in Abeokuta.
Sorunke, who addressed participants at a day stakeholders’ engagement forum on Agricultural Value Chain Development Process, said the agric sector of OGSTEP was set in motion by Governor Dapo Abiodun to increase private sector participation in the economy towards improving the agricultural production and productivity of smallholder farmers.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Angel Adelaja-Kuye, said the project would achieve a gender balance with the inclusion of women and youths, as well as key players across various value-chains for farmers’ engagement. The Project Coordinator, Mrs. Mosun Owo- Odunsi, represented by Mr. Fatai Osunsanya, emphasised the need to boost agriculture through a businessfriendly environment that would attract more private investors in agribusiness with secured off-takers to promote industrialisation.