Oyo State government has declared that food prices are cheaper in the state, more than anywhere else in the country.
It attributed the positive development to the significant progress it made through deliberate agricultural interventions that boosted farmers’ productivity across the state.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, disclosed this when he received his counterpart in the Ministry of Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, in his office.
The Commissioner for Agriculture also disclosed that the state has achieved massive gains in agricultural output over the last three years.
He attributed the progress to the consistent investments of the state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde in mechanized farming, seed distribution, fertilizer support, and training for farmers.
According to Olaleye, the prices of key food items have dropped drastically due to the government’s sustained agricultural programmes.
“Cassava price was about ₦600,000 per truck three years ago but today it is less than 150,000 because of massive investments in agriculture by this administration,” he said.
The commissioner highlighted four major interventions that have transformed the state’s agricultural landscape.
These, he said, included the distribution of 65,000 bundles of cassava stems to farmers, provision of hybrid and high-yield seeds, free fertilizer supply, and the state’s tractorization programme.
According to him, under the tractorization initiative, the government covers 50 per cent of the plowing cost for farmers.
“If a farmer intends to plow 20 acres, the government pays for 10 acres. That means those who could only cultivate 10 acres before are now able to do 20. The effect has been massive food production across the state,” he explained.
Olaleye added that more than 7,000 farmers have benefited from the 2025 round of government-supported mechanized farming, with over 21,000 acres of farmland cultivated so far, as against 6,000 acres in 2024.
He also revealed that over 12,000 bags of fertilizer have been distributed to farmers free of charge, with nearly 6,000 farmers benefiting.
The commissioner added: “Depending on their farm sizes, beneficiaries received between two and five bags each.
“By removing the burden of fertilizer and plowing costs, the government has made farming easier and cheaper. This has helped farmers to expand their operations and lower the cost of production.”
In addition, he noted that between November and April, about 4,800 farmers were trained on modern farming techniques, including proper seed timing, fertilizer application, and pest control as a move that has improved both efficiency and yield.
Olaleye also disclosed that more than 20,000 tons of cassava have been exported through the Ibarapa axis alone and signified the intention of the government to impose a tax regime on the exportation.
He further revealed that Oyo State had achieved remarkable success in animal husbandry, following the free vaccination exercise for over 120,000 cattle and 89,000 sheep and goats.
“We recorded a sharp reduction in livestocks fertility this year, and our farmers are smiling,” he said.
According to him, the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has also extended support to poultry and piggery farmers through the free distribution of animal feed.
Speaking on the government’s Social and Economic Recovery (SAfER) Programme, Olaleye said most of the agricultural interventions were designed as part of efforts to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on citizens.
“The tractorization and input distribution initiatives were all designed as a response to the rising cost of transportation and food items that followed the removal of subsidies,” he stated.
He said the Oyo State government remained strongly committed to sustaining the agricultural transformation agenda, stressing that the ultimate goal is to make the state a leading food-producing hub in Nigeria.
