The Senior Special Assistant to Ekiti State Governor on Farm Settlements and Agriculture, Mr.Temitope Adewole has re-echoed the commitment of the Biodun Oyebanji led administration to food security in the State before the end of 2025 farming season.
Adewole made this known during a meeting with farmers at the Farm settlement office in Ado Ekiti.
The Senior Special Assistant who said Farm settlements Agency in Ekiti State provides land to young farmers annually added that Governor Biodun Oyebanji was prepared to provide more heactares of land to young farmers,offering support services to help them succeed.
The SSA quoted Governor Oyebanji as saying, “The state government is investing in these settlements to increase food security, create job and empower young people”.
Adewole said the Governor has approved the clearing of more than two thousand farm lands in addition to the already cleared for the farmers at the farm settlements.
Regarding accommodation at the farm settlements as requested by the farmers, he noted that Governor Oyebanji has promised to provide accommodation through the renovation of the old Awolowo farm settlements across Ekiti State.
According to him, plans were underway to do at least six farm settlements in addition to the seven existing ones in the state.
‘Governor Oyebanji recently disbursed cheques worth N140million to youths that engaged in commercial agriculture for the first batch of their harvest .
The young farmers were drawn from the six cluster farm settlements in the state under the “Bring Back The Youth in Agriculture” programme of the state government in partnership with YSJ Farms’, he affirmed.
The SSA assured the farmers that more of them would be considered in the second batch of distribution of cheques, urging them to be more dedicated to thier work as the Governor has improved the Security Network across the State, stressing that farmers could now work freely on their farms without the fear of Herdsmen.
Adewole assured the farmers of ready market as the Governor has activated and opened doors to agricultural products offtake/buyback from farm settlements and clusters through ‘Ilu Eye Trading and Aggregation Company’.
The duo of the General Manager and Director of Farm Settlements, Mr. Kolade Osundun and Mr. Olusegun Jayeoba respectively assured the Farmers of adequate farmlands, saying the Governor has approved the clearing of more farmlands at the farm settlements.
Reacting, some of the farmers, including Ajibade Adeleke, Farm manager, Gede and Abimbola Margaret from Orin farm commended the State Government for giving priority to welfare of Ekiti farmers and making efforts to ensure food security in the State.
They urged the government to open up more lands, repair more rural roads, provide tractor services and adequate security as well as irrigation system to further upscale farming activities in the State.
