Members of the Ogun State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture have acknowledged the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture in ensuring massive food production towards achieving food security to mitigate the effects of food inflation in the State and by extension the nation .

The members of the Committee led by the Chairman, Hon. Waliu Owode, made the observation while the Management of the Ministry took turn to present its half year budget performance before the State lawmakers at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Hon. Owode also commended the Management team of the Ministry led by the Commissioner, Mr. Bolu Owootomo, for the achievements recorded in the Ministry within the period under assessment, urging them to do more at ensuring food security in the State.

He encouraged the Ministry to invest in heavy farm equipment that would enhance agricultural production at all levels to achieve sustained food security.

In their remarks, other members including Honourables Adegoke Adeyanju , Samusideen Lawal, Lukman Adeleye, Adebisi Oyedele and Babatunde Tella, noted that food security was paramount for the survival of any nation, urging the Ministry to partner with private sector in achieving massive food productions that would sustain the State.

The lawmakers also commented the management of the State Agricultural Development Corporation ( ADC) led by the Acting General Manager, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Abel for ensuring improved revenue to the government coffers.

Responding, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Bolu Owootomo, said that the Ministry had embarked on initiatives to achieve food security through four parameters by allocating farm lands to all investors that are genuinely willing to farm in the State with the intention to add value to farm produces in the State.

He urged the lawmakers to encourage farmers in their constituencies to register under Ogun State Transformation Economic Project (OGSTEP) scheme to have opportunity for improved agricultural practice to boost food production in the State.

In a related development, the Chairman House Committee on Environment, Hon.Samusideen Lawal, has lauded the Management team of the State Ministry of Environment, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Samuel Oyeleye for being proactive in tackling issues of flooding in all parts of the State.

Hon. Lawal, while leading other lawmakers to appraise the mid- year budget performance of the Ministry also applauded the management for the success recorded in revenue generation within the period, urging the Ministry to intensify efforts at preventing flooding in other parts of the State yet to be touched.