TheCable

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state, says his administration will revive the redundant old farm settlements in the state.

The governor made this known through his spokesperson, Taiwo Adisa.

He said the farm settlements, established by Obafemi Awolowo, former premier of the old Western region, would be revamped to increase the food production capacity and boost the economy of the state.

In January, TheCable had reported how thousands of hectares of land in the old farm settlements were abandoned and in deplorable condition, while the country spent about N7.9 trillion annually on food importation.

The governor added that there are nine farm settlements in the state which had ranches, pigsties, ponds, poultry pens apart from the large expanse of land to grow crops.

“Oodua Investments is not the owner of the ranches. Western Region owned the farm settlements. They are not ranches but they are farm settlements owned by states where they are located,” he said.

“We have nine of them in Oyo State and they are going to be revived. We were in Eruwa three weeks ago and an assurance was given that the over 5,000 hectares located in Ibarapa would be revived with provision of immediate access roads and necessary empowerment.

“The same thing will happen at all the other eight farm settlements which were established by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The farm settlements are complete packages. Chief Awolowo imported cows from Israel and was going to grow the animal husbandry business there before they fizzled out.

“The ones in the Western Region are not mere ranches. They are complete farm settlements with different segments such as animal husbandry, fisheries, poultry and even piggery.”