The Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has presented its two-year performance scorecard, revealing that the state has achieved 80% of its planned agricultural development targets under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde.
At a press briefing held in Ibadan on Thursday, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, unveiled a detailed impact report, describing the Ministry’s progress as “a bold leap towards making Oyo State the food basket of the nation.”
Olaleye attributed the achievements to Governor Makinde’s unwavering commitment, financial investment, and visionary policies.
“These accomplishments are a product of the Governor’s agricultural transformation agenda and the tireless efforts of our ministry staff, farmers, and partners. We are building a model of excellence in agricultural governance and rural development,” Olaleye stated.
Key Highlights from the Scorecard
Livestock Health and Safety:
The Ministry successfully vaccinated 95,948 cattle against major livestock diseases such as Anthrax and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, meeting 80% of its 120,000-target. Furthermore, over 30 million livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and birds, were inspected to ensure public health and food safety.
To enhance regulation in the livestock sector, the Commissioner revealed that the Ministry introduced Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for hatcheries, poultry processors, and livestock dealers, guided by the newly enacted Oyo State Trade Cattle, Sheep, and Goats Law.
Also, Rural Infrastructure Development:
Under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), over 87.5km of rural roads have been constructed across six local government areas, improving connectivity and market access for farmers.
“These roads are not just pathways; they are economic lifelines,” Olaleye emphasized.
Furthermore, three key rural markets, Oja-Agbe (Iseyin), Aare Alasa (Ona-Ara), and Oja Oba (Igboora), are being upgraded to enhance agricultural trade and reduce post-harvest losses.
He also disclosed that in 2025 alone, 2,827 farmers benefited from a 50% tractorization subsidy, leading to the ploughing of 13,077.10 acres of farmland. This effort supports the Ministry’s goal of cultivating 120,000 acres.
According to the Commissioner, Extension services were also enhanced with the distribution of 15 motorcycles to field officers. Climate-resilient training based on NiMet forecasts also helped prepare farmers for weather-driven changes.
In collaboration with OCP AFRICA, a large-scale soil testing initiative was executed in 100 communities, while 22,370 farmers were trained to apply fertilizers based on data from soil health analysis.
The Ministry recruited 20 veterinary doctors and 141 agricultural officers, strengthening its workforce to deliver technical assistance across the state.
Inputs and Financial Support to Farmers:
Thousands of farmers received vital input support: 920 were given soybean seeds, 3,541 received maize seeds, 1,269 got cassava stems capable of yielding over 214,000 tons of tubers, while thousands more benefitted from herbicides, pesticides, sprayers, and feed inputs.
Through microfinance interventions, Olaleye submitted that 3,501 smallholder farmers accessed loans ranging from ₦50,000 to ₦800,000, enabling them to expand their operations and boost incomes while over 3,800 individuals across various agricultural value chains, including mushroom farming, aquaculture, pasture development, agro-input sales, and shea butter production, received targeted training.
A specialized program at the Oyo State-IITA Youth Agribusiness Incubation Centre in Aawe equally trained 62 young farmers, who were also allocated land to apply their new skills.
The commissioner explained that the Ministry is currently establishing nine new Farm Service Centres, with renovations underway at eight existing facilities to enhance service delivery. The Produce Department office in Onireke is also being upgraded to host the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI).
Speaking on collaborative training Initiatives, the commissioner said
nearly 25,000 farmers were reached through strategic collaborations, including: GAIN: (Food packaging and agribusiness innovation), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (Value chain development), WAVE (Training on Cassava Brown Streak Virus), Commonwealth of Learning/ARMTI/OAU (Lifelong learning for farmers), and OCP AFRICA (Soil science and lab outreach).
In his words, “Our approach to development is all-encompassing, from capacity building to mechanization, regulatory reforms, and youth inclusion,” Olaleye said. “We are laying a strong foundation for a resilient and food-secure future.”
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to sustaining the momentum of agricultural transformation and called on stakeholders to continue partnering with the government.
“What we have achieved is only the beginning,” Olaleye declared. “With Governor Makinde’s continued support and the active participation of our people, Oyo State will lead the nation in sustainable agricultural development.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to transparency and public accountability.
He emphasized that the briefings are part of efforts to review the government’s performance halfway into its second term, guided by the “Oyo State Roadmap for Sustainable Development 2023–2027,” which aims to move the people from poverty to prosperity.
Highlighting the importance of the briefing, Dr. Olanrewaju noted that the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) serve as vital instruments for delivering the governor’s vision. The 10-day engagement, he said, would allow Commissioners and heads of agencies to give a detailed account of their achievements, explain policies, and counter misinformation, thereby strengthening trust between the government and citizens.