By: Miracle Afogun
The Oyo State government has commenced the training of 880 farmers and agricultural extension officers drawn from across the state on Climate-Smart Agriculture, as part of efforts to boost food production, enhance resilience to climate change and reduce post-harvest losses.
The training, which commenced on, August 26, at the Fertiliser Store, Oyo, is being implemented under the 2025 Business Enabling Reform Action Plan (BERAP), through the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme, which seeks to improve the ease of doing business and create more business opportunities in the State.
Declaring the training ceremony, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, described Climate-Smart Agriculture as critical to the future of food production, the economy and society, particularly in the face of climate change, soil degradation, unpredictable weather patterns and a growing population.
The commissioner noted that with the global population projected to approach 10 billion by 2050, there was an urgent need to produce more food with fewer resources, stressing that traditional farming methods alone might not be sufficient to meet the increasing demand for food. According to him, Climate-Smart Agriculture involves the application of modern technologies, innovation and scientific knowledge to improve farming efficiency, productivity and sustainability while protecting the environment.
Olaleye explained that technologies such as satellite monitoring, sensors, mobile applications, artificial intelligence, drones, automated irrigation systems and data analytics could help farmers monitor crop health, manage soil fertility, control pests and optimise the use of water and other agricultural inputs.
He added that the adoption of smart agricultural practices would enable farmers to apply fertilisers and pesticides more efficiently, reduce waste and production costs, increase profitability and minimise environmental pollution.
Olaleye stressed that the adoption of modern agricultural technologies would help transform farming from a largely labour-intensive activity into a technology-driven sector, while creating opportunities for young people and generating new jobs in agricultural technology.
He, however, emphasised that achieving a successful transition to smart agriculture required strong collaboration among government, research institutions, private sector partners, extension personnel and farmers.
He called for continuous investment in rural infrastructure, supportive policies, access to digital technology, agricultural education and training, as well as financial support for smallholder farmers.
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Olaleye assured that the State Government would ensure that farmers were adequately equipped with the knowledge and tools required to participate in the transformation, stressing that “no farmer should be left behind.”
The Commissioner urged participants to take full advantage of the training and apply the knowledge gained to improve agricultural production and extension services across the State. He emphasised that Climate-Smart Agriculture was not merely about technology but about building a resilient, sustainable and profitable agricultural sector capable of feeding the growing population while preserving natural resources for future generations.
Olaleye said: “The future of agriculture lies not only in the soil but also in innovation, technology and collaboration,” adding that effective deployment of modern agricultural tools would create a thriving agricultural sector that benefits farmers, consumers and the entire nation.
In his remarks, the SABER Focal Person, Mr. Kilanko Olayemi, who spoke through Mr. Roland Adekunle, said the project would train 880 participants across the geopolitical zones in the State. He noted that the initiative was designed to reduce post-harvest losses in the agricultural sector.
Speaking on behalf of the President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), the AFAN Zonal Coordinator, Oyo, Mr. Debo Fakayode, commended the Oyo State Government under the leadership of governor Seyi Makinde for its commitment to building a vibrant and sustainable agricultural ecosystem in the State, noting that the training for extension personnel and selected farmers across the State was another demonstration of the government’s commitment to improving food security and strengthening the agricultural sector.
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