This is a good season for investors in agribusiness and farmers in Edo State. The Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has given the assurance that his government is interested in improving agricultural activities to boost food security and sufficiency in the state.
The governor said this at the weekend when he inspected the Uwesan Farm Settlement in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, in the company of some potential investors.
In a statement by Fred Itua, his Chief Press Secretary, the governor said planting will soon commence in the farm settlement, along with similar ones in Edo South, Edo Central, and another in Edo North.
The governor said, “This is a milestone achievement. The land is very fertile. We are very serious about farming in order to ensure our people have enough food to eat. We have 400 hectares of land here, and we will plant corn and cassava. Food sufficiency is our focus, and we will do everything to ensure we succeed.
“I am happy that our investors are here with us to see the farm settlement themselves. This is their first visit, and by the time they will be coming again, they will come with their technical partners.”
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Peter Osagie, said the Uwesan Farm Settlement is a communal land and the people are ready to cooperate with the government to boost food security in the state.
He said, “This is Uwesan, and we are collaborating with the people of this area because it is a communal land of over 400 hectares. We have a guarantee from the community to expand further.
“In the first instance, this place will be used for cassava farming because it has multiple uses both as animal and human feeds. Right now, the animal feed industry is experiencing a shortage of maize supply, and the state wants to bridge that gap.
“Closely related to that is cassava cultivation for obvious reasons as well, because it is one of the most stable carbohydrates for a developing world.” The development is also good news to farmers in the area. According to the permanent secretary, “In Edo State, we have two ethanol plants that use cassava as a stock. Right now, cassava farmers are automatic millionaires because off-take is guaranteed.
“Apart from the people here, we have continued to talk to our friends who are interested in off-take in cassava in Edo State. Soon, we will have 400 hectares of land for cassava.”