Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has inaugurated the State Working Committee for the National Agricultural Growth and Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) in Ado-Ekiti as part of efforts to enhance agricultural production and ensure food security,.
Represented by Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, Governor Oyebanji, emphasised that the committee will ensure that subsidised farm inputs such as high-yield cassava stems, rice, maize seeds, fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides reach genuine farmers.
Ekiti News reports that this initiative aims to significantly boost agricultural output and achieve food sufficiency in Ekiti State. The governor also noted that efforts are underway to replicate the Committee’s work at the grassroots level, involving local government chairmen and traditional rulers.
The Commissioner expressed optimism that these measures, along with other strategic plans in the agricultural sector, will lead to food sufficiency for the state’s people in the coming years.
Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, Commissioner for Information, praised the initiative as a significant step towards enhancing food security, empowering youth, and improving the state’s economy. He commended the governor for implementing security measures to protect farmers and urged associations and stakeholders to sensitise farmers to the programme to restore their confidence and assurance of safety.
The Ekiti State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Olusegun Aderemi, urged farmers to fully embrace and participate in the programme, use the inputs effectively, and avoid selling them. He highlighted that the federal government will subsidise 75% of the inputs, with farmers covering the remaining 25%. The first batch of the state’s program will benefit a total of 3,240 farmers.
The inauguration event saw participation from key stakeholders, including the State Commissioner for Local Government, Mr. Folorunso Olabode, the Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Faboro, represented by the Onisan, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, security representatives, and leaders of farmer groups. They all commended the Federal and Ekiti State governments for their efforts to ensure food security and pledged to work tirelessly for the programme’s success.