By Sola POPOOLA
Agriculture is no longer a tool of survival; it is a business, a technology-driven industry that offers vast opportunities for innovation, wealth creation, and national growth. By channeling youthful energy into modern farming, agribusiness, and value addition, we can reduce unemployment, ensure food security, and stimulate rural development.
Since his assumption of office ,Ekiti State governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has repeatedly stated that agriculture is not just subsistence farming, but a vehicle for wealth creation, job opportunities and economic transformation.
Oyebanji emphasized the involvement of youths in agribusiness, rather than agriculture being the domain only of older farmers.
Shortly before he came to power, 23 new investors in Agribusiness were granted a permit and lands to attain the targeted 1million metric tones in the proposed Rice Pyramid Initiative. The investors have taken interest in the mass production of rice, cocoa and palm oil among others .
Interestingly, governor Oyebanji has repeatedly stated that agriculture is not just subsistence farming, but a vehicle for wealth creation, job opportunities and economic transformation.
Many friendly agriculture policies have attracted investors into the state .He emphasizes the involvement of youths in agribusiness, rather than agriculture being the domain only of older farmers.
In the last three years,the Oyebanji led administration had committed billions of naira to the agric sector . For example
, government allocated N264,800,000 for the clearing of 200 hectares of land for youth in agriculture in Ado and Ekiti-West local government areas.
Additionally, the state also approved N2.35bn for the clearing of 1,000 hectares of land as part of the Youth in Agriculture programme. This initiative will also support dry-season farming for specific communities and cooperatives.
The existing farm centres and settlements in the state had increased from the initial five to 13 clusters .They are in Ado-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti, Eporo, Iyemero and Oke Ako-Ekiti, among others.
The government entered a partnership with a private firm, YSJ Farms Limited to drive the initiative called ‘Bring Back Youth to Agriculture.’ The partnership was aimed at improving agricultural production in the state, with each cluster having not less than 150 youths.
Also , government through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has constructed Farmer Field School Demonstration Pens across the three senatorial districts of the state.
The Farmer Field School initiative with demonstration pens located in Ikole ,Ado and Ikere is a practical, hands-on training centre where farmers will learn improved methods of livestock management, animal health, breeding and pasture development. He stressed that the project is a clear demonstration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s commitment to transforming agriculture into a driver of economic growth and rural prosperity.
Recently, Oyebanji approved a whopping sum of N300 million to propel poultry farming in the state and create wealth for hundreds of youth.He said the set target of his administration, is to solidify the production base of the poultry farming, to be able to produce no fewer than 90,000 birds per cycle, and serve as veritable vehicle that can create wealth and viable employment for the populace.
Speaking at the profit distribution ceremony for cohort 2 of the Ekiti State Broilers’ Production Scheme(EBOPS), held at Jibowu Hall, Government House Ground, Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital, governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, stated that the scheme, which started with a profit base of N19.4 million in cohort 1, has now spiralled to a sum of N77 million in cohort 2, describing this as a fruitful economic mileage that will bring development to Ekiti.
Based on the weight of its remarkable impacts on the populace, Oyebanji noted that the programme has demonstrated that agriculture is not only about feeding the nation, but about creating wealth and empowering populace.
The governor was upbeat that the Cohort 3, which is the next phase of the scheme, will recruit additional 200 young participants to raise 90,000 birds per cycle to further consolidate the state’s agro-industrial development.
Governor Oyebanji was optimistic that the new investment will bolster creation of more poultry production clusters across the three senatorial districts of the state
“Today, I am delighted to note that over 250,000 broilers have been successfully raised and over 250 youth have benefitted from the programme, who are direct beneficiaries, let alone the ancillary beneficiaries.
‘”As part of our commitment to sustain and expand this impact, I have approved N300m for the expansion of the scheme and the establishment of new clusters across the three senatorial districts”.
Oyebanji saluted the youth farmers for their patriotic zeal to catapult the state to food security status, saying their innovation was setting the state on a faster pace of economic prosperity and creating a new social order ahead of the future.
“To our participants, you are the face of a new Ekiti, who are innovative, industrious and future- oriented. I urge you to reinvest your profit wisely, build sustainable agribusiness and mentor others who aspire to follow your footsteps.
“Agriculture remains central to our economic transformation agenda. We will continue to support initiatives that bring dignity, income and hope to our young people”, Oyebanji pledged.
“Since 2023 that we started, a total of 160,000 broilers have been produced with a target of 250,000 and more. Agriculture is central to the policy thrust of if this government. I want salute the poultry farmers for their dedication and sense of patriotism. You can now see that there is dignity in farming”.
The Chairman, Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Babatunde Fawekun, described the programme as a masterstroke and dedication of Oyebanji’s administration towards making agriculture the mainstay of the economy.
Fawekun revealed that as a demonstration of seriousness and steely commitment to the programme, that Governor Oyebanji injected the broilers’ farming into the 2026 appropriation bill, with upward improvement in financial allocation to the sector.
Applauding the scheme, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Poultry Association , Mrs Mary Olotu, added that many of the participants had their businesses waned and moribund before the governor stepped in to resuscitate their dead investments.
Mrs Olotu urged the farmers to rally support for the second term ambition of Governor Oyebanji, so that the good strides blowing across the sectors of the economy can continue unabated.
In his testimony, one of the participants, Mr. Femi Fagbemi, commended the governor for the landmark initiative, saying it has helped to revamp many moribund businesses and remove many youth from the unemployment market.
Fagbemi, however, appealed for the establishment of more poultry pens to expand the scope of production of poultry farming in the state.
Oyebanji has also inaugurated the Ekiti Agro Marshals to safeguard farmlands, schools, and palaces across the state.The governor said the local security outfit is designed to compliment efforts of the Police and other security agencies in the war against criminality in the state.
He explained that the Agro Marshals became necessary following the instruction of the President to the Governors to set up a Special Guard to protect farmlands and the forest. This, in addition to suggestions of the security council and that of the traditional rulers in the state, led to the establishment of the new outfit.
Emphasizing the importance of securing agricultural resources, educational institutions and cultural heritage sites to ensure sustainable development and communal harmony, Governor Oyebanji said the main mandate of the Marshals is to ensure that farmlands, palaces and schools are protected across the state.
Gov. Oyebanji, while maintaining that his government remains committed to security of lives and property of the citizens in the state, expressed his confidence that, with the right collaboration between the Marshals and other security agencies, Ekiti will be the safest place in the country.
He added that the initiative is a collaborative effort between the state, the local government and traditional institutions to safeguard the lives of farmers in order to enhance safety on the farms thereby boosting food production and food security.
The Governor charged the Marshals not to violate the fundamental human rights of the citizen but discharged their duties diligently within the confines of the constitution of the country.
“They are to compliment the efforts of the formal security apparatus, they are not to replace them, they are to work together , gather intelligence but their main mandate is to ensure our farmlands, palaces and schools are protected and because they are local they have access to intelligence, understand the community and the environment.
“I charge the officers not to violate the fundamental human rights of the citizens, you cannot be arbitrary and everything you are going to do must be done within the confines of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Agbeyewa Farms in Ekiti currently employs over 1,000 staff members in its daily operations. Without mincing words, this is one of the largest casava farms in the country, considering the workforce.