By Dele Awogbami
Agricultural empowerment, especially at the grassroots is a strategic approach to strengthening food security, reducing poverty and promoting sustainable rural development. It focuses on equipping smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of agricultural production with the tools, knowledge and support needed to improve productivity and livelihoods. At the core of grassroots agricultural empowerment is access to essential inputs such as improved seeds, fertilizers and modern farming equipment. When governments and development partners provide these resources at subsidised rates or through targeted programmes, farmers are better positioned to increase yields and diversify their production. In addition, the introduction of simple mechanization—such as motorcycles for extension officers or small-scale processing machines—helps bridge the gap between rural farmers and technical support services. Empowering extension officers with mobility and logistics enhances their reach and ensures that even remote communities benefit from expert guidance.
The Ondo State Government, in collaboration with the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD), is executing extensive rural road projects under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) to boost agricultural productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and connect farming communities to urban markets. The state is targeting the construction of 700 km to 1,500 km of rural roads across its 18 local government areas. These rural roads and projects executed or ongoing in the State include:
Idanre – Alaelefosan Road (25.7 km), Idanre-Obajare Road (10.9 km), Oda Cocoa Board – Camp 2 – Lagbido Road (15.5 km), Epe Junction (Ondo/Ife Road) – Epe – Laworo – Atamo – Gloryfield High School – Ile Oluji Road, Somorika (Supare) – Aba Balogun – Igboegun – Emure Ise Road and Molege Road (Owo LGA) among others. These are some of the initiatives taken by the State government to bolster food security and support the farming communities by making transportation of farm produce easy through connectivity between agricultural areas and trading centres.
Under Rural Farm Road Development Initiative, ten (10) kilometers of rural roads leading to major farm settlements have been graded, significantly improving access for farmers. This intervention has reduced transportation challenges, minimised post-harvest losses, eased the movement of farm produce to markets and strengthened agricultural value-chain efficiency.
Obviously, when farmers can easily transport their goods and access buyers, their income potential increases significantly. Under the present government in the State, agricultural empowerment at the grassroots is about creating an enabling environment where rural farmers can thrive independently, signifying a shift from subsistence farming to agribusiness, transforming farmers into entrepreneurs and job creators. This bottom-up approach not only boosts local economies but also contributes to national growth and long-term food security.
Recently, agriculture at the grassroots in Ondo State received a boost with the provision and distribution of seventy (70) motorcycles to agric extension officers in the State, which was a strategic intervention aimed at improving service delivery and boosting productivity. By enhancing the mobility of extension agents, the government enables them to reach remote and underserved farming communities more efficiently, facilitating the timely dissemination of modern farming techniques, climate-smart practices and critical advisory services. This initiative strengthens the link between research institutions and farmers, ensuring that innovations are effectively transferred to the field. Ultimately, it contributes to increased agricultural output, improved livelihoods for rural farmers and the overall development of the agricultural sector. They provide guidance on crop and livestock management, pest control, soil conservation and the efficient use of inputs such as fertilisers and improved seeds.
Extension services also play a key role in capacity building by organising trainings, demonstrations and field visits that enhance farmers’ knowledge and skills. They facilitate access to markets, credit facilities, and government support programmes, thereby empowering farmers to increase their yields and income. In many developing regions, including Nigeria, agricultural extension services are crucial for promoting food security, reducing poverty and driving economic growth at the grassroots level. The well trained agriculture extension officers have been assigned to the various farm settlements and locations across the State to include: Ile-Oluji Farm Settlement, Adofure Pig Village, Owode Pig Cluster and Oyemekun Pig Cluster among others. Recently, over one thousand livestock farmers have benefited from the training programme on Farm Field School Facilitation through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES). Overall, effective agricultural extension services ensure that farmers are well-informed, better equipped to adopt innovations, and able to make informed decisions that improve both productivity and livelihoods.
Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo State, who officially flagged off the distribution of the motorcycles to the extension officers in Akure, the state capital said “This event is more than just a ceremony; it is a clear demonstration of our administration’s strong commitment to improving agricultural productivity, strengthening food security and empowering those who work tirelessly to support our farmers. To our extension officers who will benefit from these motorcycles, I want to remind you that this is an opportunity that comes with a responsibility. These motorcycles are tools meant to improve your service delivery and I urge you to use them effectively, responsibly and strictly for official purposes”.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa reiterated his administration’s continued support for farmers in the state, investment in agricultural development, improved access to inputs and strengthening extension services with a view to building a stronger and more prosperous agricultural sector for the benefit of the people and future generations.
In his welcome speech, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Engr. Leye Akinola noted that the motorcycles would eradicate the mobility challenge confronting the officers and assist them to reach farmers in the rural areas. According to him, “The motorcycles being distributed today are therefore not only tools of transportation but instrument of transformation. They will enhance efficiency, improve access to remote farming communities and ultimately increase productivity among livestock farmers across the State. We expect to see greater field presence, improved farmer support, better dissemination of modern livestock practices and measurable improvement productivity across the State”.
It is crystal clear that the distribution of motorcycles to agricultural extension officers represents more than a logistical upgrade but a strategic investment in food security, rural development, and economic growth. By equipping these frontline officers with the mobility needed to reach even the most remote farming communities, government has strengthened the bridge between innovation and practice, ensuring that modern agricultural knowledge translates into improved productivity on the field. As these motorcycles traverse rural paths, they carry not just officers, but renewed hope for farmers, increased yields and a more resilient agricultural sector in Ondo State.
Awogbami is Director, Media and Publicity,
Ministry of Information and Orientation, Ondo State.