By Editor
Convener of Ekiti Future Agenda EFA, Mr Adeshina Adetola on Thursday brought together a team of seasoned experts and stakeholders in agriculture to brainstorm on the crucial issue of food security with particular reference to Ekiti as an agrarian state.
The special roundtable held at Midas Hotel Ado Ekiti with the theme: ‘Achieving Food Self-Sufficiency and Improved Agricultural Production in Ekiti-The Way Out’ featured discussants from successful farmers, captains of industry, academia and top government functionaries who took turns to brilliantly highlight their views on the topic.
The chairman of the talkshow who doubles as the moderator is the Ekiti State Commissioner for Agric and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade who declared the event open used the occasion to brief the audience about the giant strides of the Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s led administration in making agriculture an attractive venture to Ekiti people especially the youths as a panacea for ending hunger and ensuring self sufficiency in food production.
Boluwade, who explained the success story recorded through the introduction of cluster farming in parts of Ekiti State noted that plans are underway to increase the number from 33 last year to 150 in the next planting season as government is providing available incentives through free land clearing, tractorisation, improved seedlings and fertilizers to farmers.
“Agriculture though is very tedious but if you have the interest at heart and you are ready to work, government is ready to support you. Ekiti State Government will be extending the state interventions from 20,000 seedlings to 100, 000 seedlings to farmers in 2025” he said.
He allayed the fears expressed by one of the discussants about the possibility of rolling out figures for mere statistical data noting that many beneficiaries of the government’s interventions have been giving testimonies of the reality of the program citing the transformation of Erifun farm settlement into a major modern agric hub in Ekiti equipped with state-of-the art facilities such as solar power to make life comfortable for resident farmers.
The Commissioner disclosed that will soon commence the introduction of Farmers’ Markets in Ado, Ikere and Ikole Ekiti where farm produce are sold directly to the people without the influence of middle men.
Discussants drew the attention of government to the area of commercial agriculture and cash crops such as cocoa, oil palm and processing industry in the agriculture value chain.
They expressed worries at the aging population of farmers in the state while emphasizing the need for government to put in place a laudable policy of youths in agriculture as one sure way of food security and sufficiency in the state.
Earlier, the convener of the roundtable, Mr Adetola in his opening address, opined that the gathering will serve as a rendezvous of ideas and strategies aimed at ensuring food sufficiency in the state and importantly advance the quest to rebuild a wholesome society upon what he called, “the pristine values that define Ekiti people”
His words: “We should prioritize our needs in a way that will guarantee a greater and more rewarding future. We should genuinely ask ourselves if it is money for food or food for money” he said.
At the end of thrilling interactive session, both the discussants and audience agreed that with the strategies of the present administration, agriculture will soon become a source of wealth and job creation.
