Ekiti seeks stakeholders' collaboration to boost agric productivity
Ekiti State Government has stressed the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to enhance agricultural productivity and ensure sustainable development in the state. The Special Adviser/Director-General of the Office of
Ekiti State Government has stressed the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to enhance agricultural productivity and ensure sustainable development in the state.
The Special Adviser/Director-General of the Office of Transformation and Service Delivery and Chairman of Agric-MEAL Team, Dr. John Ekundayo, made the call in Ado-Ekiti during the second quarter engagement meeting of the committee.
He noted that effective collaboration among government agencies, farmers, private sector players and development partners remained critical to achieving food security and driving agribusiness growth in Ekiti State.
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The committee, established in 2025 by Governor Biodun Oyebanji, is mandated to strengthen monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning processes in the agricultural sector, with a view to ensuring that government programmes deliver measurable impact and value for money.
Ekundayo commended members of the committee for their dedication and commitment, adding that the progress recorded so far was a reflection of a shared resolve to reposition agriculture as a major driver of economic growth in the state.
He lauded Governor Oyebanji for his deliberate and strategic interventions in the agricultural sector, noting that the administration’s policies had significantly repositioned agriculture as a key driver of economic growth in Ekiti State.
He said the governor’s commitment to strengthening value chains, improving access to inputs and supporting farmers had begun to yield positive outcomes, boosting productivity and enhancing food security across the state.
Ekundayo added that the government’s focus on monitoring, accountability and sustainable agricultural practices had ensured that interventions were not only impactful but also beneficial to the people.
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He maintained that the Oyebanji-led administration had demonstrated strong political will in transforming the sector, expressing confidence that ongoing initiatives would improve livelihoods, create jobs and attract more private sector participation in agribusiness.
Ekundayo also paid tribute to a late member of the committee, Prof Segun Ajibola, describing him as a committed professional whose contributions to the sector and the committee would be sorely missed.
In his remarks, Mr. Adetunji Aribasoye emphasised the need to increase youth participation in agriculture by repositioning the sector as a profitable and technology-driven enterprise.
Similarly, Engr Adebiyi Ojo highlighted the importance of developing tree crops such as cocoa, oil palm and cashew through improved seedlings, climate-smart practices and better access to finance.
Also, Dr Solomon Ayodeji Ekundayo, who joined virtually, outlined key strategies for sustainable livestock development, noting that the sector has the potential to create thousands of jobs and significantly contribute to the state’s economy.
