a bid to make farming captivating to the youth and to boost production of food in
in Ekiti state, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, has flagged off construction of dormitories in all the farm settlements operating in the state.
Oyebanji posited that the policy will make the state the food basket of the nation, besides generating employment for a large number of youth who had before held the conservative view that farming was a non-lucrative venture.
Oyebanji, who spoke in Eporo Ekiti, on Thursday, while laying the foundation for the construction of the Renewed Hope Dormitory, said the project will help me in checking astronomic increase in the prices of food items, when the products are available in all markets.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, said the dormitories will be fitted with modern accessories and basic amenities that will make the youth farmers to be fully residential inside the farms, saying food production is the pivot on which the economy thrives.
He assured the youth farmers operating in the state that the project will be replicated in other areas designated as Farm Settlements, like; Oke Ako, Eporo, Aramomo and Ikere communities, where cluster farming is being undertaken.
The Ekiti’s number one citizen, was enthralled with the spiralling level of food production being enjoyed in the state, since the commencement of cluster farming initiative, which facilitated productive engagement of about a thousand of youth in farming.
In an exhilarating fashion, Oyebanji announced that the youth farmers made over N200 million income in the last farming season, thereby propelling Ekiti’s economy to a sustainable pedestal.
“The project we are beginning today 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”.
Earlier in his submission, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, described the programme as a game changing policy in the food production initiative at the subnational level that will reignite interest in farming.
Boluwade applauded Governor Oyebanji for his vision in the agriculture sector, assuring that all the policies geared toward making the state abundant in food production shall be executed zealously to transform the lives of the people.
“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”.
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 help in stemming the tides of abduction since areas identified as kidnapper-infested are being converted into farm settlements.