How Oyebanji’s agric revolution is changing narratives for Ekiti youths

‘YOMI AYELESO, who recently visited farm clusters and centres established by the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji in Ekiti State and other project sites across the 16 Local Government Areas, reports on the positive impacts of the concepts on the youth and the state’s economy through the food production system.

WHEN Governor Biodun Oyebanji rolled out his six-point strategic pillars called the Shared Prosperity Agenda after taking the oath of office in October 2022, many people in the state and beyond thought it would be business as usual as it relates to the government’s celebrated plans and blueprint. But, after almost three years at the helm of affairs in the state, Governor Oyebanji has proved doubters wrong with his achievements. From education to health, sports, infrastructure, agriculture, human capital development and social welfare, among other sectors, the government’s impacts are visible across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.

Aside from the notable impacts in other sectors, which have been duly acknowledged by stakeholders both within and outside the state, the agriculture sector, under Governor Oyebanji, has been revolutionised to the admiration of the people, especially the youth.

Checks have shown that more than 50 per cent of the state’s Gross Domestic Product is from agriculture, hence the government’s huge investment in the sector.

In a bid to achieve his desired results for the sector in relation to economic empowerment and achieving food security in the state, the governor was deliberate from the onset with the appointment of a competent technocrat to drive his vision in the agriculture ministry. The appointment of Ebenezer Boluwade as the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security has been described as one of the best decisions by the governor, considering the level of accomplishments in the state’s agric value chain.

During the old Western region under the leadership of the late sage, Chief  Obafemi Awolowo, the agriculture sector in Ekiti and indeed the entire region was a priority to the administration for employment generation and, most importantly, to attain food sufficiency. To achieve this, the late sage in 1959 established farm settlements across different states in the region, including Ekiti State, where youths were engaged and allocated a portion of land in the settlement to engage in agricultural activities for commercial purposes.

Though it was a successful project then, successive governments and leaders abandoned the agriculture concept and the structures across the settlements.

Determined to replicate Awolowo’s concept and make farming more attractive to youths in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive, the governor set out by introducing far-reaching reforms towards revolutionising the agriculture value chain by tapping into the huge potential in Ekiti State.

In less than three years in the saddle, the government has committed billions of naira to the agric sector by setting up the farm centres and settlements from the initial five to 13 clusters across the state in Ado-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti, Eporo, Iyemero and Oke Ako-Ekiti, among others. The government entered a partnership with a private firm, YSJ Farms Limited to drive the initiative called  ‘Bring Back Youth to Agriculture.’ The partnership was aimed at improving agricultural production in the state, with each cluster having no less than 150 youths. 

When Sunday Tribune visited these centres, well-furnished dormitories for both male and female participating youths had been put in place at the settlements for the comfort of the young farmers, including a solar-powered borehole. A cable television network is also available at the centres for them to keep tabs on happenings across the world, especially sporting events and political activities.

As of the end of August, the administration has cleared not less than 4,800 hectares of farmland, provided tractorisation, agro-chemicals while seeds and seedlings were made available for the farmers.

Aside from the food crops plantation like maize, cassava and yam planted by the youths, the government also initiated the ‘Ekiti Broiler Production Scheme’ in centres such as Erifun in Ado-Ekiti and Ikole, where over 160,000 chickens have been produced and sold to buyers within and outside the state from 2023 till date.

As part of the government’s support, the over 5,000 youths participating in the project are being given stipends for their upkeep in the clusters. The government also engaged the services of security agencies, including operatives of agro-marshal, Forest Guard and Amotekun Corps to ward off any threat from criminal elements.

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To avoid the perennial challenge of post-harvest losses, the administration in 2024 established ‘Ilu Eye Agro Trading and Aggregation Company Limited. According to the government, the company aims to purchase and store agricultural products from the farmers, reduce post-harvest losses, and sell food items at affordable prices through the ‘Ounje Ekiti Retail Outlet’ to ensure food security in the state. This initiative has already commenced with many residents visiting the market at Agric Olope area to purchase these commodities like garri, beans and the rest at cheaper prices compared to the general market.

Besides, the government helps the youth to source for off-takers, especially outside the state, who purchase the produce after harvest, including the broilers. Under these arrangements, the youth are given the profit which runs into millions of naira, while the capital investment is ploughed back into the project for the next cycle and expansion.

Speaking with the Sunday Tribune, one of the farmers at the Oke Ako farm settlement, Ojo Ogunrinde, expressed delight over the administration’s commitment to the empowerment of the youth through agriculture.

He said, “We have around 4,000 hectares here, but we cleared over 1,000 hectares. We plant cassava, maize and soybeans. At the moment, we have 250 hectares of maize, 81 soya beans and about 120 hectares.

“We have tractors to plough, planters to plant and we have harvesters during harvesting and trailers to convey our goods to the market. So, this is a complete mechanisation which makes it easier for the over 300 youths on this farm.

“Before now, nobody could come into this area, but under the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, they have provided us with stable security, which allows us to sleep on the farm and work.”

A 27-year-old youth in Eporo-Ekiti farm cluster, Monday Agbekoni, said the agriculture initiative of the Oyebanji-led government has changed his perspective about the agriculture sector.

He revealed that the farm clusters and settlements created are adding value to his life and that of other colleagues and also helping the state to achieve food security.

“We have been given a lifeline by the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji to use agriculture to change our lives and the state for the better. We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of this laudable agriculture programme; it is really helping us.

“I want to urge our youths outside there still doubting this initiative and be part of it because this is the way to go for economic empowerment and financial prosperity,” Agbekoni added.

On her part, Seyi Olotu, said, “This is a good programme by the government with support from YSJ company. I am benefiting from it because after harvesting the maize, they help us get off-takers who will pay and we get the profits.

“As a woman, I am happy doing this because it is better than staying at home and wasting my life with nothing. I am calling on my friends and other youths in the state to take advantage of this opportunity provided by the government and YSJ to better their lives.

A youth participant in Ikere-Ekiti farm cluster, Mathew Ojo, lauded the governor for making agriculture attractive to the youth with the farm settlements, adding that the concept is a better way of practicing  agri-business.

Mathew said, “This is the real agribusiness we are talking about because it is our future and I want to appreciate the governor for the support in this regard.

“We planted maize here and I will tell you that the species in my hand are for the industrial market. What makes this unique is the dormitories we have here just for us to be comfortable and be interested in the farming practice.”

A participating youth in the Broiler Production Scheme at Erifun farm centre, Ayomide Olawale, said the production of the poultry at the cluster has been successful, noting that the support of the Oyebanji-led administration has proved to be the game changer in livestock farming.

“As you can see here, the truck is here to load the birds for sale and that is good money for us the participants here. I am told a lot of youths who had done this in the early cohorts are doing well in their business with the money and profit they received.

“I am grateful to the governor for helping us to be financially stable by bringing out this broiler production scheme. We would like to have more pen houses so that more youths can be captured in the state,” Olawale said.

In what could be described as the recognition of the state’s huge investment in the agriculture sector in the last three years, recently the Presidential Food Security Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) honored the governor with a champion of the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism (NAPM ). The governor also signed an insurance policy on behalf of Ekiti farmers as part of efforts to boost food production and economic development.

Governor Oyebanji explained that the state’s investment in the food system is a deliberate plan of his administration to align with President Tinubu’s  renewed hope agenda for the state to achieve food sufficiency and economic empowerment.

He noted that his administration would stop at nothing in making the state as the first choice for investors in the agriculture production value chain, towards attracting more foreign direct investment (FDI).

Oyebanji said, “Since taking office, we have invested heavily in agriculture through free and subsidised fertiliser distribution, land clearing, tractorisation, and inputs support. Our collaboration with credible partners, including YSJ Farms, has also brought thousands of young people back into farming.

“Ekiti is ready to play its role as a key contributor to Nigeria’s food security. We will continue to empower our farmers, strengthen the agricultural value chain, and create opportunities that benefit every household across our state.”