As part of efforts by the Fayose led administration to revamp the Agricultural Sector in Ekiti State, the State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has commenced the process of leasing seven government facilities to private sector players.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon.Kehinde Odebunmi who made this disclosure while playing host to members of the State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources in his office in Ado-Ekiti, listed the facilities to include the Government Fish hatchery at Isinla in Ado-Ekiti, the Poultry Processing Facility at Emirin, Ado-Ekiti, and the Yam Conditioning Centre at Ilasa-Ekiti.
Others are; Integrated Poultry Project, Afao –Ekiti, Sericulture project at Emirin in Ado-Ekiti, 45Ha Drip irrigation Facility at Ikosu-Ekiti as well as the Abattoir and cattle market, Ado –Ekiti.
Hon.Odebunmi said the action became necessary to allow optimum utilization of the facilities as well as generate employment adding that the move would ultimately boost the economy of the State.
Promising to ensure absolute transparency and accountability in the activities of the ministry, the Commissioner said that as a former legislator, he understands the importance of oversight functions by the legislature stressing that proper knowledge and adequate understanding by the committee of the true position of things would be beneficial to the ministry during appropriation.
Responding on behalf of other members of the Committee Hon. Gboyega Aribisongan promised total support from the Committee and would synergize in order to take the ministry to its rightful place.
Hon. Aribisongan urged management of the ministry to be more proactive, especially during the present financial difficulty saying that the ministry could embark on a scheme to recruit young graduates and under graduates who had interest in farming in order to encourage entrepreneurship through Agriculture.