Edo launches back-to-farm initiative to boost food production

The Edo State government has launched back-to-farm initiative to boost food production across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, made this known during a meeting with farmers at the Iguoriakhi Farm Settlement, Ovia South West Council of Edo South,

The initiative is an agricultural revolution, which the Okpebholo’s administration plans to use to establish farms in the three senatorial districts, as well as provide farmers with the needed incentives to produce more food for the nation.

The governor, who said the Edo people are known for farming, assured the people that his administration would revive farming across the state to produce food for Edo citizens, Nigeria, as well as export to other states and countries.

He assured that his back-to-farm initiative would not just be on paper, but on the field, and Nigerians would enjoy the benefits of abundant food production.

Governor Okpebholo promised the farmers incentives such as fertilisers, farm machineries for mechanised farming, as well as loans to enable them to carry out farming activities.

“I want to thank the farmers because they have been farming before, but this time, we will farm together. We want to produce food that will not only feed Edo State, but also feed Nigeria.

“It’s time for all of us to go back to the farm. Farming has become a very serious business, and together, we will produce the food and feed our people.

“My administration would provide you with equipment, fertilisers, and support with resources to farm and produce food for the nation. We would have farms across the three Senatorial Districts of the state. This is the season to farm, and we are embarking on farm initiative in Edo State,” Governor Okpebholo said .

Also speaking during the meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Osagie Aibuedefe, assured farmers that with an increased budget of over N70b, farmers would greatly benefit from improved incentives to boost their farming activities.

Earlier, the Vice President of the Farmers Association, Mr Benson Enahikare, who read the President’s speech, outlined some of the challenges facing the farmers, to include encroachment of cattle destroying their crops, among other challenges.

The 2,300 hectares of farmland, known as the Iguoriakhi Farm Settlement was established in 1963.