Ekiti State Government has distributed N637 million cheques to Cooperatives and Communities Farmers’ Group in the State to boost agricultural production for food sufficiency.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State stated this at the launch of the 2023 farming season organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado Ekiti.
Governor Oyebanji also hinted that the World Bank Assisted rural road construction programme would soon start in Ekiti with the
rehabilitation of 74 km of access roads, which would enable farmers to transport their farm products from the farms to the markets for sale, stressing further that 1000 km of rural roads would be constructed across the state to boost food production with a view to improving the state’s economy.
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The governor, who assured the farmers that kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes and other unrest militating against farmer’s productivity would be things of the past in the state, mentioned some of the achievements recorded through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to include, including financial assistance to Poultry farmers, employment of 42 Produce Inspectors to checkmate the nefarious activities of produce smugglers as well as subsidizing input to cashew, cassava and other cash crops farmers in the state.
Earlier, Adeniran Alagbada, Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Ekiti state, commended the Governor for the various supports farmers in the state have derived from his administration which include subsidized inputs, revolving loans and supply of hybrid seedlings at affordable prices.
Alagbada, who highlighted some of their challenges including poor rural road network, inadequacy of Extension Officers and lack of mobility among others, appealed for the Governor’s intervention in solving some of the problems.
