Group Urges Aregbesola to Explore Agric., Tourism Potentials

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A non-governmental organization, Forum for Nation Builders and Social Development, has charged the Government of the State of Osun to explore the economic potentials of agriculture and tourism to generate income for the state.


The Osun-based group, in a communique issued at an Economic Summit tagged: Enhancing Osun Economic Development: Agriculture and Tourism as Key Indicators, maintained that the adverse effect of dwindling federal allocation and low Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the state would be effectively cushioned if the government could invest in agriculture and tourism which are pivotal to the economic development of the state.

According to the group, there is urgent need to shift the state’s focus from the monthly federal allocation to agriculture and tourism for sustainable growth and development.

The communique which was made available to our correspondent on Sunday was signed by Messrs Ayo Odeyemi, Convener of the group, Babajide Bewaji, Chairman of the Summit Committee and Ismael Uthman, Secretary of the committee.

To promote agriculture and enhance farming specifically, the group suggested that the state government should revamp the moribund farm settlements in the state and upgrade them into Agricultural Industrial Centres to be clustered in a community of 5000 people who are predominantly inclined to farming.

The agricultural centres, the group advised, should have modern amenities like internet and cable TV, to discourage rural-urban drift, which results in rural dwellers abandoning farming for urban life, further resulting in the dearth of agriculture