Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun plans to replicate Europe’s largest farmers’ market across the state to support local agriculture
Ogun State is set to revolutionise its agricultural sector with the construction of several large-scale Farmers’ Markets across the state.
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The state’s Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, announced plans to introduce massive markets in multiple locations, aiming to connect local farmers directly to consumers and increase the accessibility of agricultural produce.
The Governor revealed these plans during an on-site inspection of the ongoing work at the Farmers’ Market located in Asero, Abeokuta.
He explained that this market is only one of the many that will be established throughout the state. According to Abiodun, the Asero market will be one of the smallest, as the vision is to build even larger, more comprehensive markets in the future.
He drew inspiration from his recent trip to France, where he observed the largest farmers’ market in Europe. Abiodun emphasised that his administration intends to replicate this model in Ogun State, with a key focus on creating a central hub near the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, although the exact location is yet to be determined.
“This is just one of the many markets we plan to build across Ogun State. The aim is to create a network of markets that connects farmers directly to buyers, bypassing middlemen and ensuring that produce reaches the market fresh and at fair prices,” Governor Abiodun said.
A significant aspect of the initiative is the development of the Ogun State Farmers’ Management Information System. As the first state in Nigeria to implement such a system, Ogun now has detailed data about its farmers, including demographics, the crops they produce, and production volumes.
This system aims to streamline agricultural activities and improve the state’s ability to support local farmers with resources such as land preparation, pesticides, and fertilisers.
Governor Abiodun also addressed the issue of rising food prices in the country, attributing the increase not to the removal of fuel subsidies but rather to the exploitative practices of middlemen in the agricultural supply chain.
By cutting out these intermediaries, the Governor believes that prices will become more competitive and fair for both farmers and consumers.
Farmers who have been trading at the Asero market for over a decade, such as Mrs. Soleye Sherifat, Mr. Oladunni Solomon, and Mrs. Akinbobola Oluwatobi, expressed their gratitude for the intervention.
They hailed the Governor’s initiative, noting that it would strengthen the economic position of local farmers and create more opportunities for growth in the agricultural sector.
In conclusion, Governor Abiodun’s administration is committed to fostering an environment where local farmers can thrive, benefiting from better market access, improved support systems, and reduced reliance on middlemen.
This ambitious project is expected to have a profound impact on Ogun State’s agricultural economy in the coming years.
