Our interventions in agriculture yielding positive results — Ekiti govt

The Ekiti State Government has said its ongoing interventions in the agricultural sector are beginning to yield measurable and positive results.

The Special Adviser/Director-General of the Office of Transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD), Dr. John Ekundayo, said the impacts of government efforts are already visible across markets in the state.

He spoke during an assessment tour conducted by the Ekiti State Agriculture Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (AGRIC-MEAL) Team across key agricultural projects in the state.

The team inspected facilities, including the Renewed Hope Farm Dormitory, covering about 50 hectares of cassava and maize farmland in Ikere-Ekiti, the Erefun Farm Settlement, the state fish pond, and the Ounje Ekiti retail food outlet in Ado-Ekiti.

Ekundayo, who is the Chairman of Ekiti AGRIC-MEAL, noted that initiatives such as expansion of cultivation areas, access to farm inputs, and the operationalisation of agricultural programmes are already enhancing productivity.

These efforts, he explained, have also contributed to improved availability of staple foods in local markets, helping to cushion the impact of rising commodity prices.

Ekundayo commended the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for making staple food items available to residents at highly discounted prices despite the harsh national economic climate.

The Director General added that the government will now deepen efforts in production, processing, packaging, and marketing to drive further improvements in food sufficiency.

“The Ministry of Agriculture has been doing tremendous work. This is the third year of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration, and for the first time, Ekiti now has a food price index. Prices of commodities have dropped significantly.

“In August, Ekiti recorded the lowest food prices in the Southwest, and we intend to build on this”, Ekundayo said

He explained that the tour was primarily aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and evaluation within the sector.

He added that the review mission was part of the Governor Biodun Oyebanji-led administration’s broader strategy to measure progress and improve food availability in the state.

“This tour is not just about monitoring, but about creating a platform for transparency and accountability so that stakeholders in and outside Ekiti can clearly see what is happening in the agric sector,” he said.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ebenezer Ojo, noted that Ekiti State is rapidly emerging as a model for agricultural development in the southwest.

He expressed optimism that the state is on track to become Nigeria’s leading food provider, saying, “We have become a case study in the Southwest and are recognized nationally for our progress. Very soon, Ekiti will be regarded as the best food provider in Nigeria.”