The Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) is ramping up efforts to tackle food inflation and support agro-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with the construction and rehabilitation of over 300 greenhouse units across the region.
According to OORBDA's Managing Director, Engr. Adedeji Ashiru, a total of 73 new greenhouses have been completed, five fully rehabilitated, while 220 more units are set for delivery this year under new contracts. Fifteen existing structures will also undergo rehabilitation, bringing the total number of greenhouses in the pipeline to 313.
The large-scale project is part of the federal government's push to improve food security and stabilise prices, particularly through year-round farming enabled by controlled greenhouse environments.
Greenhouse farming presents a valuable opportunity for agro-SMEs and youth-led agribusinesses to engage in high-yield crop production, even during dry seasons. The initiative is expected to help small farmers scale operations, improve food supply chains, and access better markets.
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Ashiru emphasized that these developments align with President Bola Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency on food security. "Even during the dry season, food production must continue. Greenhouse farming enables that continuity," he said.
OORBDA also highlighted the installation of solar-powered boreholes to improve water access in rural areas—further supporting smallholder agriculture and agro-processing.
Officials from the Authority defended the quality of their infrastructure, including rural access roads crucial for farm-to-market logistics, and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Nigeria's agricultural transformation agenda.
For agro-focused SMEs, the expanding greenhouse footprint represents both an opportunity for partnerships and an entry point into climate-resilient agriculture.
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