NG-CARES: Oyo State Empowers Thousands of Farmers with Fertilizers, Seeds, Livestock

The Oyo State Government has continued the distribution of agricultural inputs to smallholder farmers across the state as part of the ongoing implementation of the NG-CARES programme in June 2025.

Spearheaded by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde, the initiative is being implemented through the Oyo State Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) and is supported by the World Bank. The programme seeks to strengthen food security, increase agricultural productivity, and provide economic relief to vulnerable farmers affected by current economic hardships.

In the current phase, thousands of farmers across several local government areas (LGAs) are receiving essential farm inputs, including NPK fertilizers, maize and tomato seeds, herbicides, cassava cuttings, and livestock such as goats.

According to records from OYSADA, the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, the fourth phase of the programme in 2024 successfully supported 3,660 farmers across 26 LGAs, contributing to improved livelihoods and increased food production.

The June 2025 rollout builds on this momentum, with continued emphasis on Farmers’ Community Associations (FCAs) and participants of the Youth Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness Programme (YEAP), ensuring that both grassroots and youth-led agricultural enterprises benefit.

Beyond distribution, the programme incorporates training and extension services, providing farmers with the tools and knowledge needed for sustainable and modern agricultural practices.

Speaking on the initiative, government officials reiterated that NG-CARES is part of a broader suite of interventions under the Makinde-led administration, which includes the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) and tractorization subsidies.

These strategic interventions, they say, are aligned with the Oyo State Roadmap for Sustainable Development 2023–2027, aimed at tackling poverty, boosting job creation, and achieving food self-sufficiency in the state.

The government maintained that these efforts are especially crucial given the rising economic pressure on citizens, a situation worsened by national-level challenges many attribute to the policies of the previous All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.

The NG-CARES programme remains a cornerstone of Governor Makinde’s agribusiness strategy and his broader vision to build a resilient and self-reliant economy in Oyo State.