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IBADAN – Oyo State is set to pilot Nigeria’s Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management Plus, FARM+, Programme, a $7.8 million global intervention aimed at promoting safer, climate-smart, and environmentally sustainable agriculture, the Director General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, OYSADA, Dr. Debo Akande, has announced.
Dr. Akande disclosed this during a strategic planning meeting on the FARM+ Programme in Ibadan, noting that Oyo State was selected as the pilot state in Nigeria due to the visionary leadership and agricultural transformation agenda of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.
The FARM+ Programme is financed by the Global Environmental Facility, GEF, and the African Development Bank, AfDB. It is designed to reduce the use of highly hazardous agrochemicals across agricultural value chains while advancing food safety, ecosystem protection, farmers’ health, and responsible agricultural production practices.
According to Dr. Akande, who also serves as Executive Adviser to Governor Makinde on Agribusiness and International Cooperation Development, the state’s emergence as the pilot site underscores the administration’s commitment to modernizing agriculture and attracting global partnerships.
“Oyo State was chosen because of the clear direction and strong agricultural transformation agenda being pursued under Governor Seyi Makinde,” Dr. Akande stated. “This programme aligns with our broader vision of turning agriculture into a modern, investment-driven, and globally competitive sector that improves livelihoods and opens doors to international development collaborations.”
He explained that the initiative would complement ongoing efforts to industrialize agribusiness in the state, support innovation, and promote inclusive economic growth for farmers and agripreneurs.
Dr. Akande emphasized that the FARM+ Programme directly supports the state government’s goal of environmentally sustainable farming. By reducing dependence on highly hazardous agrochemicals, the project is expected to enhance food safety, protect natural ecosystems, and improve the health outcomes of farmers and consumers.
“The Makinde-led administration remains committed to initiatives that drive innovation, environmental sustainability, agribusiness industrialization, and inclusive growth,” he said. “FARM+ gives us another platform to deliver on that mandate and to position Oyo as a model for sustainable agriculture in Nigeria.”
On the sidelines of the meeting, Dr. Akande paid a courtesy visit to Dr. Abdul Kamara, his longtime friend and brother, to congratulate him on his recent appointment as Acting Vice President of the African Development Bank.
During the visit, Dr. Akande commended the AfDB for its continuous support and strategic interventions in Oyo State’s developmental and agribusiness projects. He described Dr. Kamara’s elevation as well deserved, adding that his experience and dedication to African development would strengthen the Bank’s impact across the continent.
“I expressed appreciation to the African Development Bank for its partnership and for the confidence reposed in Oyo State,” Dr. Akande said. “Dr. Kamara’s leadership at this level is an asset to Africa, and we look forward to deeper collaboration.”
Reiterating the state’s openness to international cooperation, Dr. Akande said Oyo remained ready to work with global institutions and development partners to drive sustainable development, food security, youth empowerment, and economic prosperity.
“Our door is open to productive collaborations that align with our goal of building a competitive agribusiness ecosystem,” he said. “With partnerships like this, we are confident of delivering measurable impact to farmers and creating opportunities for the next generation in agriculture.”
The FARM+ Programme is expected to roll out in phases across selected agricultural value chains in Oyo State, with technical support from the AfDB and GEF.
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