By Yemi Olajutemu
Ado Ekiti
As part of the effort towards enhancing agricultural development in Ekiti State, the Senior Special Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor on Farm Settlement and Agriculture, Mr. Tope Adewole on Wednesday paid a courtesy visit to the office of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Ado Ekiti.
The visit which turned to a key meeting, well attended by the officials of the two agencies, marked a crucial step towards creating a more coordinated approach to agricultural programs within the state.
Mr. Adewole who emphasized the commitment of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration to ensure food security and enhance market and export value for agricultural products said all efforts are meticulously directed towards positioning Ekiti as the food basket of the South-West.
He highlighted the importance of increased support from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for Ekiti farmers, noting that the state government has implemented robust security measures to ensure safety across towns and agricultural processing zones.
The state Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Ekiti, Mr. Aderemi Asegun, who commended the various measure and the security initiatives championed by Governor Oyebanji also lauded the collaborative efforts between the state government and the Federal Ministry, emphasizing the positive impact of such partnerships on local farmers.
Mr. Asegun explained that the forthcoming Federal Government program, “Agro Pockets,” which is set to benefit approximately 5,000 farmers in its first phase will address some immediate challenges on shortage in the productivity of the farmers.
Stating that the importance of farmers’ data cannot be overstated, the coordinator stressed that agricultural development programs rely heavily on accurate and comprehensive data for desirable success.
Also present at the meeting was the General Manager of Farm Settlement, Mr. Osundun Kolade, who reinforced the need for the Federal Ministry to work directly with the farm settlement. “We have a comprehensive database of Ekiti farmers and their direct contact information. This will facilitate more effective and targeted support for our farmers,” Kolade stressed.
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