In a bid to collectively tackle food insecurity, Ogun State Government says it will continue to embrace the Federal Government’s agricultural intervention programmes and be guided by its template.

The State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan stated this in Abeokuta, while addressing a 5-man delegation from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Abuja, who were on a visit to the State to ascertain and monitor the progress work on level of implementation of Food Systems Transformation Pathways intervention in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states.

Mr. Olabimtan affirmed that the goal of the Federal Government intervention is in alignment with the state’s agricultural development agenda, reiterating the present administration’s agenda to leverage the 80 percent comparative advantage of vast arable farmland available towards developing agriculture and other agro-based initiatives.

Olabimtan revealed that the Ministry under his watch, as the Coordinating agency would work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, and other allied agencies in the state on the project, and furnish the team with the reliable information that would aid the smooth implementation of the intervention in the State.

 He called on the implementing partner for prompt intervention, workable recommendations, technical and financial support that would add value to the sector for the betterment of all.

Earlier. the leader of the delegation. Prof. Olukayode Ogunsanwo disclosed that the National Food Systems Transformation Pathway, an initiative of the Federal Government commenced two years ago, and after various level of meetings with other stakeholders in the Food Systems, a 2021-2023 Action Plan was developed to work with.

Ogunsanwo, who is the Consultant of the intervention in the Southwest region of the country, noted that a template was set and sent to states to populate with reliable information to work with at the Federal level, charging each coordinating Ministry to celebrate and chart a clear direction for the smooth implementation of the project in the state.

Thereafter, separate presentations were made by the focal agency of the project, which include Ministries of Agriculture, Information and Strategy, Environment, Education, Science and Technology, Health, as well as State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).