In a move aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and creating new economic opportunities for rural communities, community development advocate Ol’eru Innocent Adoga has inaugurated the Ol’eru Onion Growers Alliance (OOGA) and launched six onion trial fields across Igedeland.
The inauguration took place during a training programme held at Julia Resorts, where coordinators of the Ol’eru 4 Ol’eru Movement and pioneer members of the newly formed alliance received training on onion cultivation and its economic potential.
Speaking at the event, Adoga described agriculture as the most practical pathway to sustainable economic transformation in Oju and Obi Local Government Areas, stressing that onion farming presents a significant opportunity to increase farmers’ incomes and reduce dependence on supplies from outside the area.
“Farming is a business, but profitability depends largely on what we choose to produce. Every household in Igedeland consumes onions daily, yet we rely almost entirely on supplies from outside our land. This initiative is about changing that reality by creating new opportunities for our farmers and young people,” he said.
According to him, the six trial fields will serve as demonstration sites to evaluate the suitability of onion cultivation under local conditions and encourage commercial production among interested farmers.
He noted that the initiative is expected to diversify agricultural production, strengthen food security, create employment opportunities, and contribute to poverty reduction across Oju and Obi Federal Constituency.
Adoga also maintained that effective leadership should be measured by its impact on people’s lives, adding that agriculture remains Igedeland’s greatest comparative advantage and should be harnessed to drive economic growth and wealth creation.
The coordinators of the Ol’eru 4 Ol’eru Movement in Oju and Obi Local Government Areas, Comrade Simeon Agbeje and Mr. Ikwe Alobo, commended the initiative, describing it as a practical intervention that addresses unemployment and rural poverty through agriculture.
The programme featured a practical session led by an agricultural expert, during which members of the Ol’eru Onion Growers Alliance established the first onion nursery beds. Participants also pledged their commitment to the success of the project and offered prayers for the growth of onion production in Igedeland.
The six onion trial fields are expected to serve as pilot projects for wider adoption of onion farming across the area. Organisers believe that successful implementation could improve household incomes, create jobs, reduce dependence on external markets, and position Igedeland as an emerging onion-producing hub in Benue State.
