Ondo govt restates commitment to women’s participation in agriculture

In a move to boost women’s participation in agriculture and promote food security in Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has launched an agricultural empowerment initiative aimed at equipping young female farmers with modern farming techniques.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Wemimo Akinshola, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Agriculture and Agribusiness, emphasized the government’s commitment to youth-driven agribusiness. He disclosed that young female farmers from the 18 local government areas of Ondo State recently completed a three-month intensive training on modern vegetable farming in Ogun State, facilitated through partnerships with agricultural development organizations.

Key Highlights of the Initiative

1. Empowering Youth for Agribusiness Growth: The program focuses on equipping young women with innovative vegetable farming techniques to enhance productivity and strengthen food systems in Ondo State.
2. Food Security & Economic Growth: Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration aims to position Ondo State as a leading agribusiness hub in the next 24 months, ensuring food self-sufficiency and agricultural sustainability.
3. Expanding Participation: The next phase will train 100 more youth (70 females and 30 males), with selections handled by local government chairmen to ensure fairness and transparency.
4. Building the Next Generation of Agripreneurs: Beneficiaries will gain technical skills, agribusiness strategies, and resources to establish and scale their agricultural enterprises.

Stakeholder Commitments & Beneficiary Testimony
According to Farmer Femi Ilesanmi, the program coordinator, the initiative is designed to empower women and encourage active participation in food production. The first batch of trainees, who graduated on March 24, have returned to apply their newly acquired agronomic skills to improve food production in Ondo State.

One of the beneficiaries, Ebhodaghe Blessing, described the training as a life-changing opportunity, stating that she gained valuable insights into modern farming, business sustainability, and increased productivity.
Source- Tribune

Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
This initiative aligns with the broader agri-food transformation agenda, but stakeholders must address key factors to ensure long-term success:

1. Beyond Training – Market Linkages & Funding Access
   Training alone is not enough young farmers need access to funding, input supply chains, and structured market opportunities to scale their agribusinesses sustainably. The government should collaborate with agribusiness investors and financial institutions to provide low-interest credit for trained farmers.
2. Expanding Agribusiness Focus Beyond Vegetable Farming
   While vegetable farming is a lucrative venture, Ondo State could explore additional value chains, such as poultry, aquaculture, cassava, and maize production, to diversify income streams for young farmers.
3. Land Access & Infrastructure Support
   Many young farmers struggle with land acquisition and mechanization costs. The state government should integrate land allocation schemes and mechanization support to ensure sustainable agricultural expansion.
4. Youth Retention in Agriculture
   A major challenge in youth-focused agricultural programs is the tendency for participants to abandon farming due to financial instability or lack of market access. The government must develop mentorship programs, cooperative networks, and off-taker agreements to keep beneficiaries actively engaged in the sector.
5. Monitoring & Evaluation for Impact Assessment
   A structured monitoring system should be implemented to track the progress of beneficiaries, measure business success rates, and refine the program for better impact. This could include follow-up support, advisory services, and business incubation programs.

Conclusion
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s initiative is a commendable step towards youth inclusion in agribusiness. However, sustainability requires more than training it demands financing, market integration, mentorship, and infrastructure development. If properly executed, this program could set a model for other states to adopt youth-driven agribusiness strategies, ultimately contributing to Nigeria’s food security and economic growth.