Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has the following Department/Units and three parastatals. They are:

1. Administration and supply
2. Planning Research and statistics
3. Finance and Accounts
4. Agricultural Services
5. Rural Development
6. Produce Services and Tree Crops
7. Veterinary, Livestock and Fisheries Services
8. Sericulture project Unit

1. Farm Settlement and Peasant Farmers Developmemt
2. Fountain Agricultural Marketing Agency
3. Agricultural Development Programme/FADAMA III Project
4. Ekiti Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-Pres)

Establish of cocoa clonal gardens at Ado, Eporo and Iye.

State Steering Committee Members:

Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade
Chairman, State Steering Committee
Commissioner for Agriculture & Food Security

2. Commissioner for Infrastructure & Public Utilities
3. Commissioner for Finance
4. Commissioner for Trade, Investment & Cooperative
5. Commissioner for Women Affairs
6. Special Adviser to Governor on Security
7. Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN)
8. Director Animal Husbandry Services – Secretary

State Technical Committee Members:

Mr. Babatope Ojo
Chairman, State Technical Committee
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security

2. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Investment & Cooperative
3. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Infrastructure & Public Utilities
4. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment
5. General Manager, Agricultural Development Programme (ADP)
6. Director Animal Husbandry Services
7. Director Veterinary Services
8. Director of Agric. Services
9. Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria( AFAN)
10. Chairman, Pig Farmers Association of Nigeria
11. Chairman, MACBAN Ekiti State Chapter
12. Representative from Dept. of Animal Science, EKSU
13. Representative of Financial Institution
14. Director, Planning, Research & Statistics – Secretary

State Project Implementation Unit (PIU) Members:

Mr. Olayinka Adedipe
State Project Coordinator, L-PRES

2. Monitoring & Evaluation Officer – Dr. Tajudeen Odewale
3. Project Accountant – Mrs. Folasade Omotoso
4. Project Auditor – Mr. Julius Aremu
5. Social Safeguards Officer – Mrs. Aderonke Oke
6. Environmental & Social Officer – Mr. Olaniyi Ijadare
7. Procurement Officer – Mr. Babatunde Alabi
8. Value Chain Officer – Mrs. Adenike Omoleye
9. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Officer – Mrs. Busola Adeniyi
10. Project Engineer – Engr. Daniel Osasona
11. Animal Health Officer – Dr. Oluwaseun Oluwarotimi
12. Animal Husbandry Officer – Mr. Muyiwa Adelodun
13. Extension Officer – Mrs. Olubunmi Ajayi
14. Communication/ICT – Mr. Adetunji Adesola

Gov. Oyebanji Inaugurates L-PRES State Project Office, Vehicles

July 31, 2024.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji on Tuesday inaugurated the Ekiti State Livestock Productivity & Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project Office, Vehicles and other equipment as part of his administration’s commitment to agriculture development, particularly the livestock sector in the State.

Speaking while commissioning the project office, vehicles and motorcycles in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, the Governor said the programme is part of his administration’s agenda to drive innovation ideas and food security vision.

The Governor explained that the livestock production productivity and resilience support, a World Bank assisted project in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, is aimed at improving productivity and commercialization of targeted livestock production system in the state and also strengthening the resilience of livelihoods including those affected by farmer-herder conflict.

Emphasizing the suitability of the state to further leverage on the enormous livestock facilities in the state, the Governor said his government supported the implementation of the project because of its potential in enhancing the livestock value chain in the state.

He explained that the state would leverage strategically on the project to build strong institution around agro-economy development, conflict resolution, capacity building, massive extension service, construction and renovation of livestock infrastructure among others.

He said the project would also restructure and upgrade the livestock development center at Erifun in Ado Ekiti to a livestock agribusiness center that will accommodate the state priority value chain, upgrade central abattoir and cattle market along Iworko road to ultra-modern climate smart facility that guarantee public health and safety, upgrade and equip veterinary hospital to a modern disease diagnostic skit as well as facilities the establishment of modern cattle market in Omuo Ekiti.

While assuring that his administration would not relent in its effort at ensuring that Ekiti becomes the food basket of the country, the Governor said his government has tremendously transformed the poultry value chain under Ekiti State Broiler Production Scheme in the state.

“L-PRES is a World Bank Project in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and it is aimed at improving productivity and commercialization of targeted livestock production systems and strengthening the resilience of livelihoods including those affected by farmer-herder conflict.”

“Our government supported the implementation of L-PRES project for its potential enhancing the already existing livestock value chain in the state. The suitability of Ekiti state is further premised on the enormity of the available livestock facilities and land in the state.  These include among others Livestock Development Center in Ado Ekiti, Irele grazing reserve, old Oke -Ako cattle ranch and other associated infrastructures. These facilities will obviously offer a springboard for the overall success of the project” the Governor asserted.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, who appreciated the Governor for ensuring Ekiti State become one of the participating states in the L-PRES project and his commitment and support for the implementation of the project said, Ekiti has met with all the requirements for the implementation of the programme.

Also at the event were, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Monisade Afuye, Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Folakemi Olomojobi, former acting Governor, Hon. Tope Ademiluyi, farmers across the state, among others.

EKSG admonishes poultry farmers to protect their birds against flu.

Ekiti State Government has appealed to poultry farmers in the state to maintain proper hygienic environment to protect their birds from sudden death occasioned by the outbreak of birds-flu in some states of the country.

The Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade made the plea while fielding questions from Journalists in his office in Ado Ekiti.

Mr. Boluwade who noted that some poultry farmers have lost birds worth millions of naira in the state as a result of the outbreak of the disease, urged them to maintain cleanliness of the fowl pens and their surroundings through proper fumigation and management.

The Special Adviser maintained that poultry farmers should not entertain panic as necessary precautions have been made to checkmate the spread of the disease in the state.

He urged the poultry farmers to report any suspicious case detected to the nearest Veterinary Officials in their locality or the Avian Influenza desk officer in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ado Ekiti.

The Director of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Emmanuel Osayomi appreciated the Federal Government for its assistance to poultry farmers by giving them regular trainings, stipends and active surveillance to poultry farms since inception of the outbreak in 2006.

Dr. Osayomi expressed the hope that the Federal Government’s magnanimity towards states on the outbreak of the disease would continue until the disease is no longer visible in the Country.

EKSG to Communities: Agric Processing Zone Designed for Food Security,
Job Creation

The Ekiti State Government, has appealed to warring communities and owners of 55,000 hectatres of lands acquired and designated as Agricultural Processing Zone to eschew violence, saying the initiative was intended to enhance food security and create jobs in the state.

The government made the appeal , on Tuesday, while interfacing with angry land owners from Iyemero, Esun, Odo- Oro, Itapaji, Ipao, Oke Ayedun, and Oke Ako Ekiti, who are owners of the sprawling parcel of lands acquired by government to propel the initiative.

The engagement stemmed from a letter received from the Ekiti State Ministry of Agriculture over agitations and displeasure among the land owners in the donor communities, where the lands were acquired .

The communities were led into the meeting by the Olu of Itapaji, Oba AbduKareem Adebanjo, Alaaye of  Oke Ayedun, Oba Olufemi Aribisala, Onise of Odo- Oro, Oba Babatunde Jemilehin, and Elesun of Esun, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin.

Others were the regent of Oke Ako Ekiti, Her Royal Highness Tinuade Adebayo, and the Chairman of Ajoni Local Council Development Area, Hon. Michael Ogungbemi.

The Deputy Governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary in her office, Mr. Abayomi Opeyemi, said the host communities in Ekiti North Senatorial district will enjoy speedy economic development, if they allow the policy  to thrive.

Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Media Aide, Victor Ogunje, said the Ekiti State Technical Committee on Land Matters will visit the expansive land for boundary tracing, so that each of the six towns would know their boundaries and what were contained on them.

She said; “When this programme fully begins, it is the host communities that will benefit most  in terms of employment and business development. This will also help in curtailing the incidences of kidnappings that were rampant in that axis.

“Let us allow peace to reign by allowing the boundary commission to do the demarcation, so that there will be peace. What we are trying to do is to increase food production and  create wealth and jobs for our people through commercial farming .

” I want to assure you that this government  will not illegally deprive any community the rights to ownership of their lands. When government acquired lands, it is for public interest.

“I appeal to you, let us be patient with government. With this engagement , we have known that a lot of issues needed to be handled properly and that we are going to do before the full commencement of the programme”.

In their responses, the monarchs, appealed to government to adhere strictly to processes guiding acquisition of lands and as well stop indiscriminate land clearing in the area before embarking on demarcation of boundaries among towns.

They lamented that the engagement done for the acquisition of over 5,000 hectares of lands  by government  for Agbeyewa Agribusiness Firm from the area under contention were shoddily done and that such should be corrected to foster peace.

“We are not against government acquiring lands for farming. We know the  importance and benefit to local economy, but it has to be properly done. Community engagement, issuance of notice to farmers and payment of compensations to those whose crops will be destroyed are very important in this issue.

“Government should also look at the famine such action could cause and the environmental and atmospheric  implications it will have on these towns because of aggressive tree felling that will be carried out by investors that will  move into our lands”.

The Chairman of Ajoni Local Council Development Area, Hon. Michael Ogungbemi, urged the monarchs to ensure that nobody takes laws into his hands over the matter in their domains pending the resolution of the disagreement trailing the land matter.

Oyebanji Promises to alleviate poverty in Ekiti.

As part of efforts of Governor ‘Biodun Oyebanji to eradicate poverty and unemployment in Ekiti State, 36 unemployed youths have been selected and trained under the Ekiti State Broilers Production Scheme.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade stated this during the flag off of a training organized by the ministry in conjunction with Amo Byng Farms in Ado Ekiti.

Mr. Boluwade noted that the first batch of 36 trained youths as pilot A would be empowered after a period of six months when another set of 36 unemployed youths as pilot B would be trained.

He explained that the already trained youths would train other people under them as the state government was prepared to empower them to make them self reliant.

The Special Adviser who advised the beneficiaries to listen and adhere to every bit of the training to become masters in the profession for
them to be independent, said the training would continue within six months interval.

The Director Animal Husbandry Services Mr.Adedayo Alofe who commended the Governor for his giant strides in the state, particularly in the agricultural sector, said the state government has expended a huge amount of money on the repair of fowl pens in the state.

Two of the beneficiaries, Mr Clement Alofun and Mrs Yemi Adedara thanked the state government for the opportunity and promised to train as many as those who care to patronize them for similar training.