The Oyo State Government has earmarked 3,000 hectares of land within the Ijaiye Farm Settlement for the development of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) and a Rungis-style food wholesale market.
The announcement was made during a stakeholders’ meeting that held at Atan-Ijaiye, Akinyele Local Government Area.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Dr Debo Akande, the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Kolawole Badmus, said the initiative would have a far-reaching impact on the agricultural sector.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the 3,000 hectares are part of the 7,581-hectare expanse of the Ijaiye Farm Settlement.
Badmus assured stakeholders, particularly farmers, that their concerns over possible displacement were unfounded.
He also noted that the project is designed in line with Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration’s vision to boost the agricultural value chain, empower local farmers, and create sustainable economic opportunities within the sector.
The SAPZ and wholesale food market are expected to serve as a major hub for processing and distributing agricultural produce, while also generating employment and facilitating rural development in the region.
