Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has announced ambitious plans to establish large-scale farmers’ markets across the state, inspired by Europe’s prominent agricultural markets.
This initiative aims to enhance the agricultural value chain, promote food security, and enable direct transactions between farmers and consumers, cutting out intermediaries.
Governor Abiodun made this known during an inspection of the ongoing Farmers’ Market project in Asero, Abeokuta. While highlighting the vision behind the initiative, he noted that the Asero market is one of several planned sites.
“What we are doing here is one of the several we are going to build. This one here in Asero is going to be one of the smallest in the state,” the governor stated.
The governor further disclosed that the initiative was partly influenced by his recent visit to France, where he studied Europe’s largest farmers’ markets.
“Our intention is to actually build a massive one… and our intention is to replicate that in the state,” he explained. The primary market hub is expected to be situated along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, although the exact location is yet to be confirmed.
An essential component of this initiative is the Ogun State Farmers’ Management Information System, a pioneering platform aimed at collecting detailed data about farmers, including their demographics, crops, production volumes, and contact information.
Governor Abiodun noted, “We have all the details of our farmers in Ogun State. We are the first state in Nigeria that has an Ogun State Farmers’ Management Information System.”
This system is designed to enhance targeted support for farmers, providing assistance in areas such as land preparation, pesticide supply, and fertilizer distribution.
Governor Abiodun also addressed rising food prices, attributing the trend to middlemen’s exploitation rather than the removal of fuel subsidies.
He expressed optimism that by creating a direct link between farmers and consumers, the new markets would help stabilize prices and ensure fair returns for producers.
Local farmers, including Mrs. Soleye Sherifat, Mr. Oladunni Solomon, and Mrs. Akinbobola Oluwatobi, have welcomed the initiative, acknowledging that the development could significantly improve their economic prospects and streamline the distribution of their produce.
As Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Governor Abiodun emphasized that the initiative aligns with broader regional efforts to boost food security and promote inter-state trade.
“We should be able to attain food security and sufficiency within our region because we have the human capacity and the necessary arable land,” he stated.
