IN line with his electioneering promise, Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki on Thursday inaugurated a committee on agriculture with a mandate to oversee the cultivation of 5,000 hectares of maize, rear 4,000 hectares of pig farm, support 3,000 cocoa farmers as well as cultivate 10,000 hectares for greenhouse vegetables and tomatoes.
He said the aim was to generate between 50,000 to 80,000 jobs in 2017 as part of efforts to fulfil his electioneering campaign promise of creating jobs.
While the committee was being inaugurated at the Government House, Benin City, the governor noted that “the committee is expected to start agriculture mandate as contained in his electioneering mandate.
Apart from the Edo State government that is spearheading the project, an agro-allied company, Saro Agrochemicals and Afrinvest are also involved.
According to him, “This is ad hoc committee that will look into our agricultural development. A full committee will be inaugurated later.
“We, however, cannot wait given that we are in a race against time. We have to begin with some agriculture activities ahead of the rainy season.
“We have three months of dry season left to make all the preparation before the rainy season.
Responding, Chairman of the committee, Chief Osaro Idah, thanked the governor for the opportunity to enable them serve the state.
He promised that the committee would put all its resources together and not fail the government and people of the state in the governor’s quest to create employment for the people in line with his electioneering campaign.
Members of the committee are, Chief Osaro Idah, Mr. Wole Adeyemi, Dr. Tunde Faturoti, Olumide Ogunboti, Walter Obaseki, Victor Ndukaba and Godwin Osayande.