As part of activities marking the 2025 World Food Day, farmers across Oyo State on Tuesday embarked on a Fitness Walk through major streets of Ibadan to promote healthy living and raise awareness on the importance of food production and household farming.
The walk, which recorded a large turnout of farmers and agricultural stakeholders, served as a platform to encourage residents to embrace farming, especially home gardening, as part of efforts to achieve food security in the state.
Addressing participants at Oje Market, the Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said the initiative was in line with Governor Seyi Makinde’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and reducing reliance on external food sources.
He noted that the fitness walk was designed to remind residents that good health and active participation in food production are essential to achieving a self-sufficient and food-secure Oyo State.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Oyo State Chapter, Mr. Adewumi Abass, urged market men and women to ensure that the reduction in farm-gate prices reflects in retail prices to make food more affordable for the public.
Describing the present administration as farmer-friendly, Mr. Abass encouraged all farmers to take advantage of the support provided by the government to improve their productivity and welfare.
He also called on them to participate actively in the grand finale of the 2025 World Food Day celebration scheduled for Thursday, October 16, where they are expected to showcase their products and innovations.
Similarly, the Coordinator of the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON), Oyo State Chapter, Mrs. Atinuke Akinbade, commended Governor Makinde’s administration for celebrating farmers in a special way.
She described the exercise as a morale booster and a clear demonstration that farmers remain central to the state’s agricultural development agenda.
