The Ekiti State Government has expended about N300 million on irrigation farming and other ally matters in the state in its bid to boost agriculture in the state.
Declaring open a five-day capacity building programme organized by the state’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, the state Governor, Ayo Fayose, said no fewer than 90 irrigation operators in the state would benefit from the gesture.
Represented by his wife, Feyisitan, Fayose expressed the determination of his administration towards improving the social and economic well-being of the people within the limited resources available at government’s disposal.
Fayose said his administration would not hesitate to partner with reputable agencies or organisations in order to achieve this objective.
He noted that agriculture remains prime among the cardinal policies of his government considering the fact that over 70 per cent of the people of the state are engaged in the sector.
He added: ”Agriculture and agricultural development remain prime among the cardinal policies of the state government considering the fact that over 70 per cent of our population is engaged by the sector.”
The governor stressed the need to open up and develop infrastructure for dry season farming.
He enumerated the benefits inherent in irrigated farming to include guaranteed food security, stability in prices of agricultural produce all year round, employment creation, farmers’ empowerment, revenue generation, industrial growth, foreign exchange earnings, reduction in crime rate and social re-engineering among others.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ebenezer Abegunde, observed that the country and indeed all the states of the federation must look inward by looking for the alternative sources of earning income aside oil due to the global economic meltdown that bedeviling the country.
Abegunde said this ugly development is prompting the state government to diversify into agricultural production through irrigation farming.
He lauded the present administration for moving towards making food abundant for the teeming populace of the state.
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