From John Adeleye
Ekiti State Government has solicited the support of traditional rulers for the ongoing reforms in the Agricultural sector and the
introduction of cluster farming in the State.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade made the call during an advocacy meeting with traditional rulers at their Council Chambers in Ado Ekiti.
Mr. Boluwade, who was accompanied by his counterpart in charge of Trade, Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Omotayo Adeola, explained that the State Government was introducing a cluster farming scheme amongst
cooperatives and communities tagged “operation Community-Commodity-Cooperative” (CCC) expected to significantly
improve the efficiency of smallholder farmers.
Boluwade said that cluster farming would enhance food security within
the state and considerably allow smallholders to pool their resources together which would lead to increase in productivity.
According to him, cluster farming would boost efficiency of
smallholder farmers and shape their productivity adding that it would
also help propel smallholder farmers into commercialization as high
yield commodities would be planted on the clusters and subsequently
linked to consumers.
Boluwade assured that Government was ready to clear hectares of land
for interested communities or cooperatives that have unencumbered land
that can be used cluster based farming.
He however stressed that lands slated for farming by any community or
association must be free of any encumbrance with a letter of no
objection from the traditional rulers in the corresponding domains.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry,
Mrs. Omotayo Adeola stressed the importance of encouraging farmers
that benefitted from Government’s loan schemes to pay their
outstanding debts, adding that repayment of outstanding loans would
provide opportunity for others to benefit.
Reiterating the commitment of Governor Biodun Oyebanji to the
development of all sectors in the State in line with his
administration’s six point agenda, Mr. Adeola said that the
administration was particularly passionate about returning the State
to its pride of place in Agriculture amongst the comity of States.
Responding, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Obas, the
Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori Faboro highlighted some of
the challenges confronting farmers in the State and urged Government
to look into the issue of provision of proper storage and preservation
facilities for farm produce to minimize wastage and shortages.
