Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has indicated the readiness of the state to participate in Federal Government’s wet/dry season farming intervention scheme, designed to enhance food security and boost agricultural productivity.
The governor also solicited more collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for mechanization and tractorization farming, livestock production to enhance mechanized farming, achieve food sufficiency, create wealth, and reduce dependency on imported goods in the state.
Governor Oyebanji disclosed these during a working visit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Abuja on Thursday, where he met with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari and the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food security, Senator Aliyu Adbullah.
Governor Oyebanji said his government was determined to maximize agricultural potentials in order to bring his people out of poverty and put them on the path of economic prosperity.
He explained that the meeting was in line with his administration’s commitment to modernizing agriculture and promoting self-sufficiency in food production, adding that his administration had developed strategies aimed at positioning the state as a viable investment destination for agro-investors.
The governor highlighted his intervention in agriculture sector since assuming office to include, changing the orientation of farmer to agric business, providing support in respect to land clearing and preparation, distribution of improved seedlings, connecting farmer with grants and loans with lesser interest, cutting off middle men so that they can prosper doing the business, leveraging on livestock, and crop production to create wealth, among others.
Emphasizing the critical roles the collaboration would further play in sustaining livelihoods and ensuring a steady food supply for the growing population of the state, Governor Oyebanji expressed confidence that concerted effort in supporting both dry and wet season farming would lead to increased crop yielding and a more resilient agricultural sector capable of withstanding varying climate conditions.
Soliciting support in the areas of mechanization and tractorization, Oyebanji further explained that adoption of modern farming equipment and technology would increase efficiency and productivity.
He maintained that mechanized farming will not only expedite production processes but also attract more, youths to the agriculture sector, addressing the issue of aging farmers and fostering a sustainable future for agriculture.
“My visit here today is to explore areas of collaboration with the Ministry in the following areas. We want to be part of your agro pocket scheme, the dry and wet season farming. We also want to see if it’s possible for you to assist us with mechanization and tractorization because in Ekiti what we have done is to subsidize tractor hiring to our farmers, if you want to hire tractor, government will pay 50percent of the money and we are also looking at the possibility of live stocks supports”.
“I have been in office for a year and two months and during that time we have tried our best to provide support for our famers, the first thing we do is to change the orientation of farmers, by letting them know that Agric is a business and science that its not the normal hoes and cutlass farming, we are providing support in respect to land clearing and preparation, we have gotten improved seedlings for them, we are connecting them to grants and loans that doesn’t have too much interest and we have also tried to cutoff middle men so that they can prosper doing this business and we are providing infrastructure” the governor said
Earlier in his welcome address, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari thanked the governor for the visit and commended him for the unprecedented achievement recorded by his administration in agricultural sector in just about one year in office.
Senator Abubakar maintained that the visit signified the strong collaboration and partnership between the state and the Federal Government in the collective efforts to ensure food security and agriculture development in Nigeria.
While assuring the governor of the readiness of his ministry to partner with Ekiti State Government, the minister expressed confidence that through continued collaboration and dedication, the country would overcome the current challenges and achieve a prosperous agriculture sector in Nigeria.
