Osun Government Targets Cotton Plantation To Boost IGR

By ABIODUN JIMOH
Plans to prioritize agricultural sector to make it one of the key ways to boost internally generated revenue in the Osun State have been concluded.
Hon. Adedayo Adewole, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security disclosed this during when he visited cotton farmers in Oke Osun area, Osogbo to assess the level at which they have been able to produce cotton.
The Commissioner however could not hide his joy and feelings having discovered the level and quantity of cotton the farmers have been able to produce within a very short time.
Furthermore, he appreciated the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the support given to farmers in terms of loan and skill acquisition programs, just like Oliver Twist, he urged the CBN to do more, adding that agriculture was another means of employment to teeming youths if properly developed.
Adewole also explained that the state government is planning to establish textile industry so that all cotton produced in Osun would not be taken to another state and this would also be a source of employment to youths in the state.
In the same vein, Head of Development Finance Office, CBN in Osun, Mrs. Oluyemisi Adebayo appreciated the state government for supporting the cotton farmers, while urging them to put more efforts so that they could be able to produce more cotton and the CBN will not hesitate to assist them where necessary.
In their separate remarks, Baale Oke Osun, Prince Taofeek Idowu and the Chairman National Association of Cotton Famers, State of Osun, Akande Sulaiman gave kudos to the state government for its effort in supporting cotton farmers, stressing that this was the first time they were experiencing this kind of support in the state.
Present at the event were the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Food security, Mrs Gbemisola Fayoyin; Director of Agric Services, Oladapo; Director of Fisheries, T. Baba Salaam, among others.