Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade has said that the various strategic interventions of Governor Oyebanji administration in agriculture are already yielding visible, measurable, and life-changing results.

Speaking while featuring on an audience participatory bilingual simulcast, Ekiti Today/Ekiti L’oni, Mr. Boluwade noted that the efforts have directly influenced the food market, especially in major commodities such as garri, beans, and rice, whose prices have seen a significant downward shift.

According to him, the significant reduction in prices of food items is as a result of the substantial increase in locally-produced food items, stressing that “a lot of the rice, beans, soyabeans oil and other staples in our markets today are Ekiti-made. And it is all thanks to the vision and commitment of Governor Oyebanji.”

He said going by data collected throughout the year, extensive harvests are emerging from the youth clusters with more than 5,000 youths actively engaged in agriculture across 13 clusters, a remarkable increase from the initial 1,000 participants at the onset of the programme, adding that the development is proof that the investments are translating into results on ground.

Noting that the third cohort of what he described as the flagship of the State’s agricultural programme, the “Bring Back Our Youths to Agriculture” project is set to commence, Boluwade said government had constructed ultra-modern dormitories in five strategic farm clusters across Ikere, Eporo/Emure, Iyemero, Aramoko, and Ado Ekiti with each facility featuring separate hostels for 100 male and 100 female young farmers (200 bed spaces), storage facilities, round-the-clock lighting powered by solar energy and standby generators, 24-hour security posts, boreholes, and modular solar-powered irrigation systems.

• GOVT’S STRATEGIC AGRICULTURAL INTERVENTIONS YIELDING VISIBLE, MEASURABLE, AND LIFE-CHANGING RESULTS IN EKITI – AGRIC COMMISSIONER.
• EKITI TAKES DELIVERY OF 2,000 WASTE WHEELIE BINS
• EKITI GOVERNMENT REPORTS GAINS FROM ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVES
• Oyebanji Seeks Strong Civil-Military Relations, Condemns Fayose Market Attack
• HARMATTAN: EKITI CAUTIONS RESIDENTS AGAINST BUSH BURNING

Each cluster, he elucidated, now accommodates at least 100 farmers working on diverse products such as poultry, fisheries, cassava, corn, rice, beans, vegetables amongst other farm produces and products, adding that government also facilitated improved tools, machinery, agrochemicals and technology, ranging from modern implements to digital monitoring systems and drones as part of efforts to make farming attractive to young people.

“Revenues generated within each cluster are reinvested into operations, sustaining growth and expanding opportunities. This is only the beginning. The impact is already visible in the markets, and the purchasing power of our people has improved significantly”, he affirmed.

“Apart from crop farming, government is also giving the livestock sector a boost as the State has increased its poultry output significantly, creating a fully interconnected value chain across clusters with revenues generated within each cluster reinvested into operations to sustain growth and expand opportunities” he said.

Lauding the support of Development Partners and the State Chapter of the expressed appreciation to the All Farmers Association of Nigeria for their unwavering support, Boluwade said over 120,000 poultry pens have been constructed across some local governments areas, including Emure, Ikole, Ido, Igede, Ikere, and Efon with the support of L-Pres and the World Bank.

He added that the pens would be leased to trained youths, creating another layer of economic opportunity.

“Recruitment for the poultry clusters began two weeks ago, drawing remarkable interest, and 250 youths are now fully engaged on their farms. By mid-next year, they are expected to complete their production cycle and graduate.”

“The state is also accelerating work on its livestock expansion, with developments ongoing for pig, sheep, and goat clusters in Otun and Moba. At Ilokun, large-scale clearing has begun for a new abattoir and cattle market, complementing the approved cattle market in Ado-Ekiti, with contractors preparing to mobilize to site”, he assured.

Stressing that food security is not only about availability but also about provision of healthy, hygienic, and good quality control, Boluwade said the focus of government is to make food safe, reliable, and produced under proper standards available for the people, adding that every crop, livestock product, and processed item must come from clean and vetted sources.

He advised youths in the State to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by Government to improve their lot and make their life more meaningful, stressing the need for them to individually and collectively key into government’s agricultural programmes.