In a bid to push Ekiti State towards achieving sustainable food security and make farming highly attractive to the youth, Governor Biodun Oyebanji has flagged off the construction of dormitories in all the farm settlements operating in the state.
Oyebanji stated that the policy would make the state the food basket of the nation, while also generating employment for the large youth population, who had previously held the conservative view that farming was a non-lucrative venture.
Speaking in Eporo Ekiti, Emure Local Government Area of the state, on Thursday while laying the foundation for the construction of the Renewed Hope Dormitory, Oyebanji said the project would help to check the astronomical increase in the prices of food items when they are made available in all markets.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Monisade Afuye, said the dormitories would be fitted with modern accessories and basic amenities that would enable the youth farmers to reside fully within the farms. He emphasised that food production is the pivot on which the economy thrives.
He assured the youth farmers operating in the state that the project would be replicated in other areas designated as farm settlements, such as Oke Ako, Eporo, Aramomo and Ikere communities, where cluster farming is currently undertaken.
The Ekiti State governor expressed delight over the increasing level of food production in the state since the commencement of the cluster farming initiative, which has facilitated the productive engagement of about a thousand youths in farming.
In an exhilarating fashion, Oyebanji announced that the youth farmers made over N200 million in income during the last farming season, thereby propelling Ekiti’s economy to a sustainable pedestal.
According to him, “The project we are beginning today (Thursday) represents a vision turning into reality, it represents our collective dreams, our commitment to progress, and our dedication to building a better future generations to come.
“A project of this scale reflects the power of unity and shared ambition. It is a testament to what can be achieved when vision meets action. With this first step, we embark on a journey that will leave a lasting impact, fostering growth and development.
“As we move forward in our zeal to achieve food security status, let us remain focused and encourage our citizens, particularly the youth, to always perceive farming as a noble and profitable vocation.
“With this mindset, our economy will improve through adequate food production, income earnings and employment generation that will reduce poverty index in our land.”
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Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, described the programme as a game-changing policy in the food production initiative at the sub-national level that would reignite interest in farming.
Boluwade applauded Governor Oyebanji for his vision in the agriculture sector, assuring that all the policies geared towards making the state abundant in food production would be executed zealously to transform the people’s lives.
“The idea of having dormitories in all our farm settlements is to make farming more attractive to our youths. It is also a signal that the current administration is ready to make Ekiti achieve the targeted food security status,” he said.
The project coordinator, Renewed Hope Dormitories in Farm Settlements, Mrs Oluwayemisi Joluwe, revealed that Ekiti was being used as a pilot state for the initiative, signposting the robust working relationship between the state and the federal government.
Joluwe added that the cluster farming initiative had added more value to Ekiti by helping to stem the tide of abduction since areas identified as kidnapper-infested are being converted into farm settlements.
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