In a bid to promote healthy food production through organic means, the Ondo State Agric Business Empowerment Centre (OSAEC) has partnered with the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), to introduce biofertiliser to crop farmers across the state.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum themed “Adoption of Biofertiliser for Agronomy in Ondo State,” the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture and Chairman of OSAEC, Chief Rotimi Wemimo Akinsola, described the initiative as a “game changer” for farmers, noting that it is locally produced and naturally based, unlike conventional chemical fertilisers.
According to Wemimo, the state government embraced the idea after confirming its effectiveness, which will also help save costs on imported fertilisers. “This is locally based and internationally recognised. It’s rooted here in Ondo State, and that’s why we are taking advantage of it to introduce our farmers to this innovation before it goes viral,” he said.
He explained that OSAEC, in collaboration with FUTA, has conducted extensive research with Dr. Makinde, which proved the product’s high efficiency on various crops. Wemimo added that once adopted by the state government and stakeholders, OSAEC would move into mass production to make it accessible to all farmers.
Presenting the biofertiliser to stakeholders, the Lead Strategist of the result-oriented research initiative at FUTA, Dr. (Mrs.) Olubukola Olusola-Makinde, said the project stemmed from the institution’s Department of Microbiology. She emphasized that unlike conventional fertilisers, biofertilisers contain no harmful chemicals, making them safer for the environment and human health.
According to her, the prolonged use of chemical-based fertilisers has depleted soil nutrients and contributed to health challenges such as cancers and other terminal diseases. “Africans have not been exposed to as much radiation as those in developed countries, yet we record high rates of such illnesses due to chemical consumption. Biofertiliser is the alternative—it contains living microorganisms that help restore soil nutrients and boost crop yields,” she explained.
Makinde further highlighted that the product, derived from waste materials, includes charcoal-based biofertilisers such as Bradyrhizobium japonicum, which improve soil fertility and enhance productivity.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Ondo State Agricultural Commodity Agency (OSACA), Chief Fred Adejo, expressed the agency’s readiness to collaborate on the initiative. He assured that OSACA would organise private seminars for farmers to educate them on the benefits and application of biofertilisers.
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