FG approves establishment of food processing equipment development institute in Ekiti

The Federal Government has approved the establishment of a Food Processing Equipment and Machinery Development Institute (FOPEMDI) in Ekiti.

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Halilu confirmed this approval in a letter addressed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji on Friday.

The NASENI boss in the letter also requested the state government’s commitment to basic facilities including land for permanent site and a temporary site for the immediate take-off of the Institute.

The institute will not only boost employment but also increase state revenue through value-added agricultural products.

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade in a statement on Sunday expressed delight in the development, noting that the state has received several interventions from the federal government in the last two weeks towards the development of the agriculture sector.

He said this was possible through what he described as the state government’s diligent resourcefulness and commitment to shared prosperity.

Expressing appreciation to the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, Boluwade said, ” the interventions of the FG is a reflection of the President’s concern for the development of the state and the priority given to agricultural development in the State. “

He revealed that “Federal government had a few weeks ago nominated Ekiti as the pilot state for Agriculture in South West, National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) selected Ekiti State for Agricultural Skills Programme and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

He added that recently sited the first Soil assessment laboratory equipment in South West of Ekiti State in order to help farmers in Ekiti and the South Western States to have easy access to soil tests.

Speaking on the impact of the newly approved institute on the state, the commissioner explained that it would address the challenges in the sector and also unlock the state’s immense potential in the agriculture industry.

According to him, the institute would produce modern agricultural processing equipment for farmers to process and package food products for the market.