Ogun boosts entrepreneurship with agro-based projects

As part of Ogun State efforts targeted at the provision of enabling economic environment for entrepreneurship to thrive, especially agriculture-based entrepreneurship and investment, it has approved the establishment of two additional model farm estates in addition to the already established model farm estate located at Owowo in Ogun Central Senatorial district.

The approved two additional farm estates, which are set to be located in Ogun West and East Senatorial districts, according to the state government, would focus on agriculture-based entrepreneurship for unemployed graduates of agriculture that will be strictly selected on merit as would-be agriculture-based entrepreneurs.

The model farm estates, according to the reports made available to BusinessDay, when fully operational, would provide employment for over 300 agriculture-based entrepreneurs and offer indirect employment to about 2000 youths, working on different aspect of farming, which includes egg, fresh and smoked fish production, arable crops, honey production, orchard, fruits and vegetable, among other agricultural produce.

Speaking at the Roll-Out of Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Programme for cocoa farmers held at CAN Secretariat in Ijebu-East Local Government Area of the state, Ronke Sokefun, the commissioner for agriculture, disclosed that government conceived the idea of model farm estate to create more employment opportunities for agriculture-related graduates through entrepreneurship and agriculture-based engagements.

The commissioner also disclosed that the first phase of the model farm estate in the Ogun Central Senatorial District, situated at Owowo near Abeokuta, would contain 50 units of one-bedroom apartment with necessary conveniences, with each of the buildings having an attachment of fish tanks, a poultry pen and small-holder irrigation for arable crops along with 200 hectares of arable land.

By: RAZAQ AYINLA