Ekiti may experience food scarcity due to recurrent fire disaster ― SEMA

Ahead of the next planting season, the Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has raised the fear that there might be a shortage of food in the state with the rate at which fire has been ravaging food and cash crops across the 16 local government areas of the state.

The Chairman of the agency, Capt Sunday Adebomi (rtd), said the recent fire incident in the state had affected about nine local government areas and rendered about 2,400 farmers jobless, which he described as a bad omen for food production and supply.

Adebomi raised the fear on Monday while inspecting some cocoa, oil palm as well as food and cash crop plantations destroyed by inferno in Omuo and Omu, in Ekiti East and Oye Local Government areas of the state respectively.

He lamented that food and cash crops estimated at about 5,000 hectares were destroyed during the fire disaster, which he said has affected the development of agriculture in the state.

He said: “Let me give the assurance that the government would always do everything to guarantee the safety of lives and property of farmers in the state. So, don’t panic as the government has concluded plans to empower them.

“I admonish our farmers to see the fire incident as a major challenge for them to do more and embrace mechanise farming, as the government would do everything to empower them.

“See this fire disaster as a challenge for you to redouble your efforts and embrace the planting of more food crops. This is the best move that would further tackle the imminent food shortage in respect of the fire disaster.”

Adebomi explained that arrangement has been concluded by the Ekiti State Government for a total re-engineering of agricultural by involving key policymakers and youths actively involve in the development of the agricultural sector.

The Owajumu of Omu-Ekiti, Oye local government, Oba Ogundeji Adeyeye, lamented over the incident, saying about 50 farmers in his community were affected.

The traditional ruler appealed to the government as well as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to come to the aid of the people of the community.

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Ekiti may experience food scarcity due to recurrent fire disaster ― SEMA