Governor Biodun Oyebanji has said that the Ekiti State Government is committed to revitalising the farm settlement system.
Oyebanji said this in a post on Thursday morning following his visit to young farmers across three areas in Ekiti State.
“I visited our young farmers across three agricultural clusters, Eporo-Emure, Ikere and Aramoko-Erio as part of our commitment to revitalising the farm settlement system in Ekiti, reminiscent of the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo,” he wrote on his official X account.
“During the visit, I personally interacted with the young farmers and addressed their needs. It was important for me to hear directly from them and ensure that their requirements were promptly attended to.”
Oyebanji said nearly 1,000 youths are actively involved in the “Bring Back Youth into Agriculture” initiative under the EKSG-YSJ partnership.
He said the goal of his administration is to empower the youth with the tools and support they need to succeed in agribusiness and use agriculture to drive industrialization.
“To support this initiative, we are taking bold steps, including providing land for the participants, clearing of the land, providing seedlings and agricultural extension services as well as offering secure living arrangements and modern dormitories at these farm settlements,” he said.
“Construction on these dormitories will begin in the next three weeks to create a comfortable environment for our young farmers to thrive.”
Oyebanji said that Ekiti is blessed with fertile land and it is high time the people of the state made the most of it.
He believes that by investing in agriculture, the state is not only securing its food future but also providing sustainable opportunities for its youths.
“This is just the beginning of a new era in our agribusiness journey and I encourage more local governments to join in this initiative,” he added.
“Together, we will create a prosperous future through the power of agriculture, the governor concluded.