The Ekiti State Government is already taking a practical step towards fighting food insecurity in the State. By the time Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his cabinet rose from the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting on Monday a quantum amount of money had been voted for the clearing of about 325 hectares of farmland.
The amount so allocated, about N177.9 million, is said to be be part payment to clear 325 hectares of land for youths who have shown interest in farming. The farmland is said to be located in Ikere, Emure, Moba, Ido-Osi, and Ekiti West local government areas. It is part of the plan of the state government to support the ‘Youths in Agriculture’ initiative.
The SEC meeting was chaired by Governor Oyebanji at the Council Chamber of the Government House in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
According to a statement from the Commissioner for Information and Value Orientation, Mr Taiwo Olatunbosun, the administration’s goal is to empower farmers in the State through targeted initiatives and collaboration with local government areas to enhance production along the value chain.
He said, “Given the urgency to plant crops before the end of the farming season and our commitment to transforming the agricultural sector,
DAVIDMOORE DEVELOPMENTAL CONCEPT
LIMITED has been engaged for the land clearing project, supervised by both the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the affected LGAs”.
The commissioner added that the SEC also approved ₦229m for the procurement of tractors and other farm machinery. The equipment includes three 5075E (75HP) tractors, three Fieldking 3-disc ploughs, one Fieldking 22-disc harrow, and two Fieldking 2-row ridges.
He said, “The approval is a corroboration of demonstration of the unwavering resolve and commitment of the Governor Biodun Oyebanji administration to transform the Agriculture Sector through targeted initiatives aimed at empowering farmers and boosting production along the value chain”.
According to him, the procurement contract was awarded to AGCOMS International Trading Limited and is expected to be completed within four weeks.
Recalled earlier that the state had approved the sum of N355.9m for the first phase of the land-clearing project in partnership with local governments.