Makinde Intensifies Agribusiness Drive, Suspends Farmers’ Loan Repayment in Oyo – Debo Akande
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has intensified efforts to reposition agriculture as a key driver of economic growth through policies and interventions aimed at boosting productivity, reducing costs, and increasing farmers’ income.
The Director-General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Dr. Debo Akande, stated this while representing the governor at the 2026 festival of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Oyo State chapter.
Akande said that since assuming office, Makinde has prioritized agribusiness development, shifting agriculture from subsistence farming to a more commercial, investment-driven model. He noted that the establishment of OYSADA has helped coordinate agricultural policies, attract investors, and create structured farming systems across the state.
According to him, the administration introduced a 50 percent subsidy on tractorisation services to ease the burden on farmers, a move that has enabled thousands to cultivate larger hectares of land at reduced costs, thereby improving efficiency and overall output.
He added that the government revived the
Agribsuiness Transformation center FASola
, transforming it into a modern agribusiness industrial hub with facilities for crop production, livestock development, and farmer training. The development, he said, has attracted investors and industries, generating employment opportunities for residents.
Akande further disclosed that farmers in the state have benefited significantly from intervention programmes such as the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NCARES) and the Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery (SAfER), both designed to support farmers and cushion the impact of economic hardship.
In a major relief measure, the OYSADA boss announced that the state government has suspended repayment of loans obtained by farmers from the Agricultural Credit Corporation of Oyo State (ACCOS) for two years. He explained that beneficiaries of the loans granted last year would not be required to begin repayment until 2028.
He urged farmers not to relent in their efforts, assuring them of the government’s continued commitment to supporting agricultural development, boosting food production, and mitigating the effects of harsh economic policies.
In his remarks, the Chairman of AFAN in Oyo State, Mr. Adewumi Abass Adekunle commended Governor Makinde for his consistent support for farmers, describing him as a “friend of farmers.”
Adekunle noted that the tractorisation subsidy programme has already benefited over 6,000 farmers, significantly reducing the cost of land preparation and enabling them to expand their farming activities. He, however, appealed to the governor to expand the initiative to accommodate more farmers across the state.
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