₦airaland Forum

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has disbursed cheques worth N140million to youths engaged in commercial agriculture for the first batch of their harvest.

The young farmers were drawn from the six farm clusters in the state under the “Bring Back The Youth in Agriculture” programme of the state government in partnership with YSJ Farms Limited.

Presenting the cheques to the young farmers on Monday at Osuntokun Pavilion, Government House, Ado- Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji noted the widespread food shortage experienced across the country and globally this year, stressing that his government’s efforts in this direction would promote farming activities as well as spur the youths’ interests in commercial agriculture, with attendant financial and economic opportunities.

The Governor assured the youths that he was already liaising with investors who will provide tractors for hiring in order to effectively boost their production capacity, adding that the strategy of the state government is not to buy tractors, but to create an enabling environment for investors to bring tractors to the state to lease to farmers.

He cautioned some elements in the Ministry of Agriculture who constitute a cog in the wheel of progress in the sector to desist from their nefarious tendencies and support the zeal of government to reposition agriculture and improve on the food security agenda of government.

Speaking further, Governor Oyebanji told the excited youths that his government, had in the last 48 hours, injected N300million into the economy of the state, which he said was in line with the shared prosperity and wealth creation agenda.

While tasking the youths to make judicious use of the money, for effective implementation of the aims and objectives of the initiative by plowing back some of their proceeds into next year’s agriculture season with the hope of a favourable weather.

Governor Oyebanji who hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the financial support to the state, said with the support of the President, efforts are in top gear to build Renewed Hope Farm settlements in all the farm clusters in the state.

“If we are going to develop agriculture and create wealth, we have to be extremely deliberate about our procurement process. On Saturday, I was in Oke Ako, we distributed about N160million compensation to farmers whose lands were taken over six months ago and the crop planted then are already being harvested.

“I have listened to your challenges regarding accommodation, I promised you that we will provide that. The old Awolowo farm settlement is what we are renovating, but in our budget next year, we have plan to do at least six farm settlements. With that you can leave your home go to the farm, when you are tired, you have somewhere to rest.

“For those that are collecting money today, I say congratulations and I am happy because you have seen the challenges and you are here today to eat the fruits of your labour, I know that what we passed through this year is not what we will pass through next year. He said.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluade thanked the Governor for his various efforts aimed at ensuring that Ekiti people are removed from the league of poverty-stricken states with the new initiative of Agri-preneur aimed at creating jobs in the sector for 10,000 youths and getting them out of poverty.

The Commissioner also revealed that at the Broiler farm, the state was at the verge of realizing N80 million within four cycles of breeding. He called on the youths to know that agriculture is a vocation that needs a lot of patience before the yields and the rewards start to materialize.

Some of the youths, Mr Johnson Owoeye from Gede; Adeyeye Micheal from Oke Ako; Michael Mayowa from Iyemero and Owolewa Samuel from Ekiti west shared their experiences, acknowledged and commended the governor for the initiative and for providing necessary impetus for them to thrive in the business saying they now have very bright future in the state.

Also, the Chief Executive of YSJ, Mrs Yemisi Joluwe commended Ekiti youths for their resilience, commitment and determination to succeed in the business saying that their efforts have shown that Ekiti youths are not lazy.

Also at the event were the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro, Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi, members of the state executive council, members of the State House of Assembly, Chairman, Council of Traditional rulers and Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Faboro among others.

mencer:
Honestly what can 140M do in empowering the farmers 1 million for 140 farmers in Ekiti?

FatimaAbubakar:
Ekiti is a very poor wretched state. I zoomed off from that state the very day I did my NYSC passing out parade. Almost 85% of the youths in the state are jobless. Thank God I didn't listen to Mr Akanbi, my NYSC local inspector that advised me to stay back.

AngelGabbyShara:
… Restates plan for massive food production in 2025




https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18nTah4kQj/

FatimaAbubakar:
Ekiti is a very poor wretched state. I zoomed off from that state the very day I did my NYSC passing out parade. Almost 85% of the youths in the state are jobless. Thank God I didn't listen to Mr Akanbi, my NYSC local inspector that advised me to stay back.

FatimaAbubakar:
Ekiti is a very poor wretched state. I zoomed off from that state the very day I did my NYSC passing out parade. Almost 85% of the youths in the state are jobless. Thank God I didn't listen to Mr Akanbi, my NYSC local inspector that advised me to stay back.

FatimaAbubakar:
Ekiti is a very poor wretched state. I zoomed off from that state the very day I did my NYSC passing out parade. Almost 85% of the youths in the state are jobless. Thank God I didn't listen to Mr Akanbi, my NYSC local inspector that advised me to stay back.

omonla555:
As poor as your generations, What have you achieved zooming off from the state.

Poor mind.

Sorry o, I never knew you are a hole. Ekiti people are serious minded people that don't follow destiny destroyers like you.

BigDawsNet:
China is the world's largest producer of many agricultural products, including rice, wheat, corn, potatoes, soybeans, cotton, and tobacco.
Today China has one of the biggest economy
We government should invest more Agricultures in the country… Resuce constructions of flyovers and invest more on Agriculture
We have millions of empty lands in the north, east west south
God bless Nigeria

Soleus123:
Nothing in Ekiti I swear. I relocated from zamfara to Ekiti. Omó that 7months was like hell to me

Oye precisely, where a federal university is situated.
No light
No network
No good work except teaching jobs with meagre payment and mostly yahoo
The uni runs on generators alone

MightySparrow:
Why not stay back or go back to your Zamfara?

Soleus123:
How on earth am I from zamfara

Bluntemperor:
True talk and God bless you!
The Truth of Nigeria Agriculture is that - from Local Govt,States and Federal,they are not serious on Agric Development,in Nigeria but we are only Interested in Collecting the Money on the Budgets for personal use.
1.For example - where are the Agriculture In the States ,the Agriculture Offices are just for States decoration,as you don't even have the Agriculture -Liaison Offices and their Officials,as of Old time,when Agriculture business was real thing.
Today,Agric Officers are seating in the Office Air Conditioning, doing little or nothing!
2.Where are the Funds Earmarked for Agric development by the CBN - at a lower Interest Rates - for the Farmers?
3.where are the Agriculture -Society - to monitors those who took Loans and see how their Farms are doing?
4.Agrc is a Serious Business,all over the World but NIGERIANS are running away from Agriculture,as we are not allowing the Agriculture Business to grow, Millionaires and Billionaires are in Agric businesses Abroad !
With Govt-involvement,Agric in India is now being Exported to earn Big in FOREX.
5.Agric is for everyone, and govt should Encourage all ,to bring back our Agriculture Revolution!
Thank God,for this governor,he is really doing well.
Please,Mr Governor,add more Funds and Monitor its usage,by setting up Committee and Officials- to visit the Place of Agriculture,by those who collects the Money and makes Reports on their Progress - every 4- Months!