Oyo Majority Leader seeks repositioning of Farmer’s cooperative society 

The Oyo House of Assembly has urged the executive arm of the government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to optimize the service of Agricultural Extension Officers via diversification and extension of preffessional prowess to rural agrarian cooperative societies through training and provision of necessary assistance for economic development.

This was part of the resolutions of the House on Tuesday, after it was considered a Matter of General Public Importance, entitled “A Passionate Appeal to The Executive Arm of Government To Put Necessary Machineries in Motion Towards Repositioning Cooperative Societies For Greater and Better Service Delivery”.

The motion was moved by the House Majority Leader, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, representing Ogbomoso South State Constituency, during Tuesday’s plenary session. 

Adedoyin stated that Cooperative Society is an Association of group of people with focus on investment, credit / thrift, loan centered on financing, community development.

According to him, Cooperative society is focused to address pressing business, agricultural, small medium scale businesses, and other germane needs of their members.

He noted that many traders, artisans, farmers, transporters became successful through their membership of cooperative societies whilst decrying that many cooperative societies are now moribund and unattractive.

The lawmaker however stressed on the need of the Oyo state government to put necessary machineries in in motion towards repositioning farmer’s cooperative society for greater and better service delivery. 

He said: “We are aware about the giant stride of His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde to make Oyo State Agricbusiness focused and providing an alternative source of livelihood for our youth is highly laudable. 

“Upgrading the existing farm settlements with provision of modern amenities and establishing new ones in all zones of the State can as well revitalize the Agricultural sector.

“Further aware that traders and artisans can equally benefit by channeling subventions, grants, facilities, loans to farmers and artisans from Ministries of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Trade, Investment, Industry and Cooperative through Cooperative Society in Oyo State in order to make sure these facilities get to intended beneficiaries, business owners and not pretenders. 

“Access to loan from various commercial banks come with high interest rate and demands for collateral which would not be attainable by the rural dwellers.It should be noted that many people are ready and highly committed to engaging in farming and other productive ventures but are being hampered and restricted financially and unavailability of other logistics that this intervention will take care of.”

Adedoyin observed that the loan relief package to traders under the SAFER intervention of His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, aimed at the restoration of dying businesses in the State.

He equally observed that a Bill that established Oyo State College of Cooperatives and Entrepreneurship Studies at Ilora, Ofijio, Local Government was passed by Oyo State House of Assembly, the college, designed for manpower supply; provision of Cooperative education, knowledge, skills, training and information had not been fully utilized to justily its existence. 

He added that another Federal College of Cooperatives Studies is located at Eleyele in Ibadan to produce graduates with diploma in various departments of cooperative management.

Reading the House resolution on the matter, the Speaker, Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, urged the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to also provide farm implements such as tractors, fertilizers, high yielding seeds to farmers at highly subsidized cost to farmers through farmers cooperative societies.

He equally directed the Ministry of Trade, Investment, Industry and Cooperative to revitalize its mode of engagement with registered cooperative societies in order to fulfill the purpose of poverty reduction, women empowerment, employment creations among many others.

“Provide Medium term loans to cooperative societies registered in the state with collaboration with Oyo State Cooperative Federation (OSCOFED)

C) Manage and optimize guidelines and policies of registered cooperative societies in the state.

“Opportunity should be created for rural dwellers to access the state loan relief package SAFER through their registered cooperative societies.”

The House of Assembly also directed relevant committees of the house to organize a public hearing where all the relevant stakeholders in the cooperative society will be able to come up with better strategies to reposition cooperative societies in Oyo State for optimal and greater performance.