The Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) has advocated a revolution in the country’s agricultural sector as a condition for nation’s economic growth and development.He described agriculture as catalyst for development, saying that it remains the instrument for food sufficiency, improved foreign exchange earnings, employment generation and drives industrialisation through agricultural processing.

Babalola, who spoke at ABUAD during the seventh edition of Afe Babalola Agricultural Exposition (ABA-EX 2019) at the weekend, said there was need for urgent resurgence in the sector to restore and reposition the lost glory of agriculture to what was obtained during the golden era when it was the mainstay of the economy.

Besides, the legal icon said there was need for economic diversification with huge investment in agriculture. Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dolorunso Olabode, applauded Babalola for his incalculable contribution to the socio-economic development of the state.He said the unique initiative had continued to yield positive results in improving food production in the state.

Meanwhile, the World Bank has said that Ekiti State will soon join the list of states on the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) from 2020.The World Bank Team Leader, Fahard Ahmed, gave the hint in Ado-Ekiti when the World Bank team and the National office of RAAMP paid a visit to Ekiti State at the weekend.said that with the level of preparedness of Ekiti State, coupled with the robust relationship that exists between the bank and the state governor, Ekiti was in a good position to join the project by January 2020.

Ahmed and his team said they were particularly impressed with the magnificent settings of the Ekiti RAAMP office and the readiness of its members of staff to hit the ground running once the project agreement and all other modalities were completed between the World Bank and Ekiti State.