Nigeria’s leading agritech startup, EZFarming and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have engaged smallholder farmers and unemployed youths in the 1000-acre EZFarming Farm estate in Ogbaagba community, Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area of Osun State
EZFarming was selected among startups to benefit from a USAID $4m grant last year to drive its farm investment marketplace platform, which connects farmers to investors and facilitate scaling of smallholder farms to commercial enterprises.
Speaking during a two-day empowerment programme held in collaboration with Oba Agbowu of Ogbaagba land, His Royal Majesty, Oba Sikirulahi Akiropo, Founder of EZFarming, Dr. Adewale Oparinde, said the programme was targeted at connecting investors to smallholder farmers and providing them with opportunity to expand their farms, increase their income and tackle youth unemployment.
The training programme comprised a flag-off ceremony at Iwo township, a tour of EZFarming estate in Ogbaagba and hands-on farm demonstration at a farm in Telemu community.
In attendance were Osun State Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Hon. Dr. Tadese Amidu Raheem, a native of the community; the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Adedayo Adewole and representatives of HarvestPlus Nigeria.
Dr. Oparinde said, “It is comforting that we are here today for this programme after a long wait for the trickling down today of the benefits of the collaboration between EZFarming and the community represented here today.
“We specially appreciate the active support of the Oba Agbowu of Ogbaagba land, who has been so welcoming and accommodating towards the empowerment of the people of Ogbagba, its environs, Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area and Osun State in general.
“We are launching the commencement of this programme which helps to connect investors to famers in Osun State, while empowering smallholder farmers to expand their farms to commercial sizes and provide jobs to the unemployed youth population. This is made possible with the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Oba Akiropo, on his part, said he is excited about the prospect of the initiative and its impact on the community, noting that the people are desirous of progress and development, which is why they have signed up for the programme.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Adedayo Adewole said that the government is backing the initiative because of its objective of increasing food production in the state and tackling unemployment.
Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Dr. Tadese Amidu Raheem, said it was imperative to support smallholder farmers and the unemployed in the community because they constitute a huge part of the population in rural areas.
“For me, the biggest impact of this programme is its potential to create employment in the rural community. As an indigene of Ogbaagba community, I know what it can be like when people do not having meaningful means of income. So, this programme is highly welcome. I believe the farmers will find it very useful and it will, in the long run, make commercial farmers of these young men and women gathered here today.”
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