Ekiti State Government has handed over the Erio-Ekiti Farm Centre to
Youths in Commercial Agriculture Development (YCAD) members for the take-off of its agribusiness.
Conducting the leaders of the Youth Farmers’ Group round the Centre, the General Manager in charge of Farm Settlement and Peasant Farmers in the State, Mr Oludare Asaolu said that Governor Kayode
Fayemi took the bold step to support youth participation in every component of agriculture for food security, job creation and economic emancipation.
The General Manager, who disclosed that the approval for the release of the 187 hectares farmland was granted about six months ago by the governor, adding that the delay in the formal handing over of the Centre was due to the process of perfecting relevant documents relating to its acquisition.
Mr Asaolu therefore warned all trespassers and illegal occupants to stay clear as government would not hesitate to use the instruments of the law to deal with them.
While charging the youths, Mr Asaolu said that the land allocated to them should be judiciously utilized for the purpose which was meant for, stressing that the governor was magnanimous to have released it to them in the face of high request for land from investors outside the shores of the state.
He explained that about 100 hectares of the land was originally cleared for farming purposes, out of which about 20 hectares were put into adequate use and the rest had degenerated into a secondary forest.
Explaining further Mr Asaolu said that a section of the centre was earmarked for poultry and livestock farming, with an assurance that government would continue to support them in the project.
In an interview with newsmen, the President of YCAD, Mr Sanya Fabiyi appreciated the governor for the approval granted for the release of the centre.
Mr Fabiyi said that the group has been making contacts with support groups and multilateral organizations for the development of the centre, adding that YCAD was waiting for the necessary documents to affirm its ownership before funds are released.
While explaining the vision of his group for the farm centre, the president said that the place was grossly inadequate to accommodate its plans, as every component of agriculture would be involved in the Centre.
He said further that the place would be developed into a modern centre with residential quarters, relaxation centre and other state-of-the-art facilities to encourage more youth participation in agriculture and its components.
In his comments, the Technical Adviser to YCAD, Mr. Olarewaju Borisade said that the youths need further assistance of government in the areas of land clearing, electrification of the centre and other social amenities that would motivate young ones in the sector and as well reduce rural-urban migration of the state population.
He assured that the centre would be put into adequate and productive use as soon necessary documents relating to the centre are released, calling on the Office of the State Surveyor General and the Ministry of Land and Urban Development to expedite actions on the title deeds of the centre.
Last modified: June 21, 2020
