Ekiti State recorded increased production and cultivated land across several major food crops in 2025, according to the 2025 Wet Season Agricultural Performance Report of the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS).
The report, certified by the National Technical Committee on Agricultural Statistics under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, showed increases in the production of rice, maize, cowpea, tomato, okra and soybean, among other crops.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, said the figures reflected the impact of government interventions aimed at boosting agricultural production, strengthening food security and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
According to him, rice production rose by 3.7 per cent from 158,455.73 metric tonnes in 2024 to 164,318.60 metric tonnes in 2025, while maize production increased by 4.4 per cent to 280,806.50 metric tonnes.
He added that cowpea production recorded a 6.4 per cent increase, rising from 97,464.59 metric tonnes to 103,702.30 metric tonnes, while tomato and okra production also recorded marginal growth.
Boluwade said cultivated areas for strategic crops, including yam and cassava, expanded during the period, with cassava cultivation rising to 243,860.80 hectares. He disclosed that cassava production exceeded 2.1 million metric tonnes.
The Commissioner said the state government would sustain interventions in land clearing, improved inputs, mechanisation, extension services, improved planting materials, climate-smart agriculture and market linkages.
He stressed that the objective was not only to increase cultivated land and output but also to improve productivity, farmers’ incomes and livelihoods, urging farmers to take advantage of government-supported agricultural programmes.
