Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji has expressed his administration’s readiness to leverage livestock and crop production to create wealth and sustainable job opportunities for the people.
The Governor disclosed this in Ado- Ekiti, on Friday while inaugurating the Steering Committee of the Livestock Production and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project.
He said the government would maximize the opportunity of the project to improve productivity and commercialization of targeted livestock production systems and strengthen the resilience of livelihoods, including those affected by farmer-herder conflicts.
Governor Oyebanji explained that the L-PRES project, a World Bank assisted Project in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as the State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has become a feasible option to restructure and upgrade the poultry facilities at Livestock Development Centre (LDC) Erifun to a livestock agribusiness centre that would accommodate various livestock value chain, upgrade the central abattoir and cattle market along Iworoko road to guarantee public health and safety.
The Governor also said the state’s veterinary hospitals will be renovated and equipped with modern disease diagnostic kits, as well as establish a modern cattle market as a huge source of revenue generation and job creation opportunities in the state.
He added that his government is supporting the implementation of the project for its potential to enhance the already existing livestock value chains in the state.
Maintaining that the project would not only transform the agricultural landscape of the state but improve the livelihoods of farmers, the Governor said his administration has developed strategies aimed at positioning the state as a viable investment destination for agro-investors.
While charging the Committee to provide policy guidelines, strategic orientation and direction for the project in the state, the Governor implored individuals, groups, cooperative societies and investors along the livestock value chain development in the state to capitalize on the project and make use of this great opportunity.
“Ekiti State will leverage strategically on L-PRES to build strong institutions around agro-economic development, conflict resolution and grievances redress, capacity building, massive extension services, construction/renovation of livestock infrastructures and help to facilitate working capital to investors.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Boluwade Ebenezer, who appreciated the Governor for his commitment to the development of sustainable commercial animal agriculture in the state, expressed delight that Ekiti State was selected among others to enlist in the project.
