Ekiti State government says they are adopting strategic agricultural initiatives tailored towards transitioning from subsistence to commercial farming in order to increase food security and stimulate economic growth.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, stated this on Tuesday, in Ado-Ekiti, during the interactive S’etigbo multicast, anchored by the Bureau of Community Communications.
Boluwade explained that the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji prioritises the needs of farmers before embarking on any initiative geared at transforming their operations from subsistence to commercial.
His words: “All the initiatives that we are trying to implement are the handiwork of the governor and they are tailored towards helping our farmers. These initiatives are very organic because we have meetings with them before we start any initiative. All of them align with their request.
“The sustainability is not a problem for us because they are the things they ask government to do for them. For example, we distributed subsidised agrochemical to the farmers. These are the things they have been yearning for government to do for them. We are doing land clearing because they asked for it.
“All our interventions are the things the farmers asked for and we are trying to provide it for them. We are moving them from subsistence to commercial because of the support we have from the government.
The commissioner stated that upon assuming office, the ministry carefully identified the major challenges confronting farmers and developed practical solutions.
According to him, “the state government has cleared over 5,000 hectares of farmland across the local government areas for youth participation in agriculture.”
He added that more than 10,000 farmers have benefited from the government’s subsidised land-clearing programme, describing it as one of the administration’s major interventions to boost agricultural production.
The Commissioner revealed that the state government has designated agricultural produce marketing centres and is working with local government chairmen to establish produce sales points across the state
He further highlighted the establishment of the Ekiti International Abattoir, describing it as a major investment that will showcase the state’s livestock potential, strengthen the agricultural value chain, and create employment opportunities for young people through its various operational units.
Boluwade disclosed that the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved the establishment of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Ekiti State to support agro-processing industries noting that cassava alone can be processed into more than 30 different products, creating significant value addition opportunities.
He said Ekiti State has earned national recognition for its innovative agricultural policies, adding that the Federal Government has adopted some of the state’s agricultural initiatives as models for strengthening food production across Nigeria
The Commissioner emphasised that the state government remains open to partnerships with private investors, development agencies, and other stakeholders to further expand the agricultural sector.
