Environmental preservation key to sustainable agric development in Ekiti – Oyebanji

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the preservation of the environment towards achieving the desired results of food security and enhancing economic development.

The governor noted that securing the state’s agricultural future would be dependent on the preservation of the nature and environment around us, saying that stakeholders must strike a balance in a bid to achieve healthy and sustainable agricultural practices.

Oyebanji spoke on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital during the opening of a three-day stakeholders engagement on the state Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative(ASCI) tagged, Empowering Sustainable Commodities Sector for a Prosperous Future organized by the state government with support from Proforest and Propcom organisations.

The governor represented by his Chief of Staff, Niyi Adebayo said that his administration in the last two and half years has invested in the development of the agriculture and forestry sectors, which he said would enhance economic prosperity.

He appealed to stakeholders, especially farmers, to embrace more responsible agriculture practices in protecting the forest and the environment across the state.

According to him,” Without renewed investment in our farms and agro-businesses, we won’t move forward economically. But without taking care of our environment, those economic gains would be wiped out by climate change, water shortage and erosion.

“So it is really important that those agendas are effectively joined up in this new coordinated way of working.

“Under this administration, we have consistently demonstrated our unwavering commitment to the agricultural and forestry sectors. We have provided improved farming inputs, cleared hectares of land for cultivation, established irrigation systems, and equipped our farmers with modern techniques to boost productivity.

“But beyond productivity, we are deeply invested in sustainability—because a thriving economy is meaningless if the land that sustains it is depleted.

“The ASCI is a testament to this commitment. Our first objective with this initiative is to develop a set of high-level principles and actions that will guide responsible agricultural development while ensuring the protection and conservation of our forests.”

Speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade said stakeholders must be deliberate in coming up with action plans towards the protection of the forest for a sustainable environment and a productive agriculture.

Boluwade said the administration would remain steadfast in the implementation of its policies and laws in preserving the environment for productivity in line with the shared prosperity agenda of the government.

Earlier, the Interim Coordinator of ASCI, Dr Akinyemi Akinyugha expressed regret that the country is losing its forest due to the activities of the people, noting that there is need for stakeholders to come up with strategies in expanding agriculture productivity and preserving the environment.

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