The Ekiti State Government has affirmed its strong commitment to leveraging agriculture as a catalyst for industrialization, food security, and economic prosperity.
Ebenezer Boluwade, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, made this pledge during a live audience participation program on Radio in Ado-Ekiti. He highlighted that, over the past 18 months, the Oyebanji administration has focused on transforming agriculture from its predominantly subsistence nature to a mechanized industry. This transformation is being achieved through the promotion of agribusiness, value chain addition in farming, aggressive free land clearing for communities, and a heavily subsidized tractorization scheme, along with other investor-friendly initiatives.
Boluwade emphasized that the recent signing of a multimillion-dollar Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Governor Oyebanji with Cavista Holdings to establish a state-of-the-art cassava processing plant, which will require farmland spanning 100,000 hectares within the State and its environs, clearly indicates the positive results of the Governor’s efforts.
He highlighted that with the favorable climate, abundant fertile arable land, and the enthusiasm of willing and able-bodied youths, combined with Governor Oyebanji’s passion for optimizing the State’s agricultural assets, Ekiti State is on the path to economic prosperity.
Boluwade noted that Ekiti State is one of Nigeria’s highest cassava yielders and is working to transform cassava cultivation into a lucrative business by ensuring a ready market for producers. He explained that cassava has evolved from a local food crop to a valuable commodity on the global market, with over 100 derivatives, including ethanol, cassava flour, starch, and chips.
According to Boluwade, “Ekiti State is one of the highest producers of cassava in Nigeria. The commodity grows well in every part of the State. With the market-led-transaction policy we are introducing, there will be a ready market for the product. With our tractorization and cluster farming policies, cost of operations will be reduced for our farmers, and marketing of their products will also be easy.”
Boluwade also mentioned that under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), a World Bank-sponsored program, the Oyebanji administration is upgrading the old abattoir in Ado-Ekiti into a 21st-century fully mechanized facility. Additionally, efforts are being made to support all segments of the livestock value chain, including poultry, fishery farming, cattle ranching, and goat and sheep rearing.
The Commissioner disclosed that the State Government, in collaboration with L-PRES, is working to upgrade the State veterinary hospital in the capital into a center for veterinary diagnostic tests and establish veterinary clinics in all 16 LGAs.
Boluwade noted that although there has been relative peace between farmers and herders in the state since the beginning of the year, the State Government is taking proactive steps to maintain this peace. These steps include regular interfaces with the Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), security agencies, and the recent recruitment of 300 Agro Marshals to complement the efforts of the Amotekun Corps and the Anti-Grazing Management Committee.
