₦airaland Forum

Oyebanji Revives Farm Settlements, pledges Security for Ekiti Farmers

....commends Tinubu's Renewed Hope Farm dormitory Initiative

Determined to boost food production, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has revived Farm Settlements initiative in the State with the commissioning of three of the six Renewed Hope Farm Dormitories built for young farmers in different farm clusters in the state.

Oyebanji, who saluted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his initiative that encourages farming, promised to tackle headon, those he described as unscrupulous elements and criminally minded individuals, who were determined to sabotage his efforts and make farming difficult in the state .

The Governor spoke while commissioning the Farm Dormitory located at Eporo Ekiti, Emure Local Government Area, on Wednesday, to mark the third anniversary of his administration.

The Governor also commissioned the ones built at Iyemero and Ikere Ekiti, targeted at increasing food production and bringing down food prices in the state.

Oyebanji, represented by his Deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, said besides reviving the moribund farm settlements built by the administration of the Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, that another 13 had been created to give comfort to the youth farmers in their farming areas.

He described the Renewed Hope farm settlement as being outstanding on the strength of involving technology for agricultural planning and innovation to attract youth as well as partnership with firms to ensure that Ekiti contributes to food production and food surplus that can guarantee security in the country.

He said with the farm dormitory project, the rural economy can be stimulated, especially with modular irrigation provided to make all the youth farmers to work round the year and secure their future through financial gains that can support their families.

"Today, the dormitories we are commissioning in Eporo, Emure and Iyemero are built to provide convenient abode, so that the youth farmers can enjoy the comfort of the city and they won't be distracted from their main focus.

"As of now, about 5,000 youths have been employed through this initiative. The rural economy has been stimulated while our youths are now more than ready to go into farming.

"We are not unaware of the activities of the unscrupulous elements who wanted to sabotage our efforts. I am assuring you that I will work with security agencies to secure all the farm settlements, so that you can work and live here without any harassment or fear if being kidnapped".

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, said the building at Eporo Ekiti can take about 200 farmers and have facilities like solar power lights and generating sets to ensure regular supply of light and water that can offer the required comfort.

Boluwade said the farm settlement has about 300 hectares of land apportioned to the youth farmers, which has helped to tame the menace of kidnapping and banditry that were common in the axis before the positive change of events.

To further strengthen farming and production, the Commissioner added that Agric Transformation Centre worth over N20 million, with modern facilities, will be sited at Emure-Eporo axis to further radicalize agriculture, saying the project will contain poultry, pet house and other farming sectors that will add value to the state.

He appealed to the young farmers to make good use of the opportunity provided by the state government, saying Ekiti rising to food security status remains the focus of the current government.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the YSJ Farms , Mrs. Oluwayemisi Joluwe, revealed that the young farmers being guided by the firm made a profit margin of N800 million between 2024 and now, saying efforts are on to increase to a sum.of N1 billion before the end of 2025 farming season.

Joluwe praised Governor Oyebanji for being visionary and steadfast in pursing his vision to make encourage commercial farming and as well promote youth employment in the state.

About the exploits the firm has made within a shorty period, Mrs Joluwe stated that the company makes a profit of N138 million in 2024 while operating in just three local governments.

She revealed that the profit margin has been lifted to a staggering sum of N800 million with the operation now expanded to 13 local governments, with a target to increase the profile to a sum of one billion Naira before the end of 2025.

Mrs Joluwe said commercial farming midwifed by the state government in partnership with the firm has radicalised food production in Ekiti State and responsible for why Ekiti State us now rated as having the least food inflation in the country by the National Bureau of Statistics.

"Today’s occasion is more than just the commissioning of a building; it is a celebration of vision, leadership, and partnership — the kind that transforms communities, empowers young people, and builds a better tomorrow.

"Last year, we recorded a profit of ₦138 million operating in just four local government areas. As of today, we have expanded to thirteen local governments and surpassed ₦800 million.

"We are confident that before the end of this year, we will close above ₦1 billion in profit.While we commend the ongoing efforts to strengthen the state’s security architecture, we must not overlook some of the challenges faced by our young farmers".

To consolidate the gains further, the YSJ Managing Director, said incidences of insecurity have made youth farmers hesitant to return to their farms, appealing to Governor Oyebanji to swiftly address these concerns, so that the youth farmers can continue their noble work with confidence, safety, and pride.

The Elemure of Emure Ekiti, Oba James Babatunde Ajiboye, commended the government for the innovative actions being deployed to boost agriculture in the state, describing this as a masterstroke that will revamp the sector in the state.

"All of you should go and get your voter cards. We will return votes that had never been witnessed in Emure Ekiti since 1999 that will shake other local governments. We are grateful that you have restored orderliness here. Nobody can come to this axis before because of the fear of kidnappers. You have succeeded in turning a dangerous zone to a zone of success".

The representative of the youth farmers, Mr. Olanrewaju Saliu, revealed that the governor has been fair to Eporo-Emure axis through cluster farming, health centre and school renovation, saying all these shall be reciprocated in the next election.

Saliu particularly praised the governor for ensuring security, by siting a Military post close to the dormitory and farming sites, sating this will change the face of farming in the state and turn Ekiti into a food basket of Nigeria

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17YZXibxfj/

That's a good one..

Kudos to him

This man is always promoting Ekiti news on nairaland. I haven't been to Ekiti since he became governor, but I hope he's doing well like you project him here? .

Ona wo ni motor abi eniyan fe gba de oko na. Ekiti roads are in stone ages.

Are the settlement for training? or is it meant for farmers to reside, work and earn?

The building should have been at least a room self-contain that will give privacy to user.

iwaeda:
Ona wo ni motor abi eniyan fe gba de oko na. Ekiti roads are in stone ages.

Se ti ona o ba da, Kon ma tun jeun ni? Are you only built to complain?

That is a good Development....

Yemmysworld91:
This man is always promoting Ekiti news on nairaland. I haven't been to Ekiti since he became governor, but I hope he's doing well like you project him here? .

Ekiti indigenes, over to you.

Is your governor doing well?

EponObi:
This man and his weekly PR but the real situation in his state paint a different picture. I used to fall his antics until a friend living in Ekiti told me about the real deal. Ekiti is probably the most backward of the SW state with excessive inflation compared to other states, thanks to the huge number of yahoo guys living in the state. Bad road networks, little to no industrialization. All his news about agriculture on a weekly basis, you'd think it's reflecting on the price of food in the state.

PR governor.

A friend living in Ekiti... Why not go yourself so you can confirm and talk with your full chest?

If I ask about the affairs of Osun state from a friend that's APC, what do you think he'll say? The same with other states.

You go around spreading ignorance. It's a pity.

[quote author= post=137305855]That is a good Development....[/quote] darling daddy is back guys , former chairman agbero union helinues is no where to be found. I guess you have repented from supporting bad leadership

What is the purpose of doing PR to people who don't matter in his reelection, my wife is from Ekiti and her parents live in Ekiti, they didn't vote and supported him when he was coming to office but now they are speaking very good of him, i want to ask you who has ever lived to receive 100% support or who is so good that doesn't have enemies? He is the first governor to have the support of former governors but he still has people that hate him even if he should build them a new mansion

See things for yourself before you make decisions

EponObi:
This man and his weekly PR but the real situation in his state paint a different picture. I used to fall his antics until a friend living in Ekiti told me about the real deal. Ekiti is probably the most backward of the SW state with excessive inflation compared to other states, thanks to the huge number of yahoo guys living in the state. Bad road networks, little to no industrialization. All his news about agriculture on a weekly basis, you'd think it's reflecting on the price of food in the state.

PR governor.

See how Dormitory be like where animals dey live. Chai!
They are not even ashamed to line up to commission that shit!

Great initiative the people needs to go into farming large scale

Kudos to the Governor. A good step in the right direction.

AngelGabbyShara:
Oyebanji Revives Farm Settlements, pledges Security for Ekiti Farmers

....commends Tinubu's Renewed Hope Farm dormitory Initiative




https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17YZXibxfj/

That's impressive. 13 local governments hosting farm settlements hosting the students made a profit margin of N800,000,000.

The final objectives should be to crash the cost of food and inflation in the value chain in Ekiti State. Most of the State Governors in the Yoruba-speaking West of Nigeria and the North Central of Nigeria (Kwara and Kogi States) are NOT very serious about developing agribusiness despite receiving more money from Federal allocations from an average of N4 billion monthly to N11 billion monthly. That should be channeled into opening up more lands for agriculture development and use CNG-FUELED tractors, CNG haulage trucks, etc, to further drive down costs of production then eliminate the middle men who hoard food items so that farmers can sell to the real end users.

EponObi:
This man and his weekly PR but the real situation in his state paint a different picture. I used to fall his antics until a friend living in Ekiti told me about the real deal. Ekiti is probably the most backward of the SW state with excessive inflation compared to other states, thanks to the huge number of yahoo guys living in the state. [b]Bad road networks, little to no industrialization. All his news about agriculture on a weekly basis, you'd think it's reflecting on the price of food in the state.

PR governor.

The dude got endorsements from a vast spectrum of his people and former Governors and Senators for re-election just this week. There MUST be something he's doing right as a Governor that folks who haven't been to that State will NOT be able to discern.