Ondo State Launches Open-Ended Farmer Census to Drive Agricultural Transformation
In a strategic move to reshape the future of agriculture in Ondo State, the government has urged all farmers across the 18 local government areas to participate in an ongoing, open-ended farmer census.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office in Akure, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Agric and Agri-Business, Mr. Wemimo Akinsola, emphasized that the registration is far from a formality. “We need to know who our farmers are, what they grow, and where they farm. This initiative will help build a comprehensive database to enhance food security, ensure targeted support, and usher in a new era of structured, data-driven agricultural planning,” he said.
Akinsola also commended farmers for their resilience in combating food scarcity and revealed that Governor Aiyedatiwa has issued an executive order on Agri-business. He noted that land banking is a key component of this directive, aimed at repositioning the agricultural sector for sustainable growth.
Highlighting the inclusivity of the exercise, Akinsola stressed that the census is continuous, with no deadline, and open to all farmers regardless of political affiliation or financial status.
Additionally, he announced government plans to establish a tractor unit in each senatorial district to support farmers during the planting season.
Reinforcing the importance of the initiative, the Administrative Secretary of the Ondo State Agric and Agri-business Empowerment Center (OSAEC), Mr. Femi Iwajomo, described the exercise as a critical farmer census for accurate data collection and strategic planning.
The Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at OSAEC, Mr. Ojo Emmanuel, assured farmers of the security of the registration portal, www.osaec.org.ng, adding that all submitted information will be handled with strict confidentiality.
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