Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Olabode Adetoyi has reiterated the commitment of the State Government towards changing the phase of agriculture in the State from subsistence to mechanized farming.
The Commissioner said this in his office during an official visit of members of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) who came with the purpose of improving rice planting and increased yielding technology in rice-producing communities in the State for assured food security.
While speaking, Dr. Adetoyi said that the target of the state government was to reinforce farmers to grow enough food for the state consumption, adding that the government has already cleared about 1,500 hectares of land across selected farm settlements in the State to be allocated to farmers or investors who wish to contribute to Agricultural production in Ekiti.
The Commissioner, however, assured them of full support they might need in order to increase the Agricultural output of the farmers in the State which will, in turn, be beneficial to the community.
Earlier, while thanking the commissioner for his warm reception, the National Coordinator of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, Dr. Ademiluyi said the purpose of the visit was to make Ekiti State one of the largest producers of rice in Nigeria through mechanized farming.
He said that farmers will be selected, trained, allocated fields and also taught how to use the machines that would be brought to the State to work on the farmlands provided by the State.
He solicited for suitable collaboration with the State government in selecting an appropriate lowland for rice cultivation, accommodation for the project staff as well as the provision of starter packs to the would-be trained farmers, including power tiller to enable them commence full implementation of the projects as soon as possible.
