Agbeyewa Farms, Ekiti monarchs partner to enhance job creation, rural development

Agribusiness firm, Agbeyewa Farms, and traditional rulers in Ekiti State have strengthened their partnership aimed at enhancing grassroots job creation and advancing rural and agricultural development in Nigeria.

This was highlighted at the third annual Agbeyewa Traditional Rulers Retreat held on Thursday, where stakeholders deliberated on strategies to improve community engagement and expand agricultural activities.

In his address, Chairman of Agbeyewa Farms, Niyi John-Olajide, commended traditional rulers for their sustained support, describing their role as pivotal to the realisation of large-scale employment opportunities in rural communities. He noted that the retreat serves as a platform to assure host communities that the company’s operations are focused on creating shared economic value rather than land acquisition.

John-Olajide stated that the company’s expansion efforts, including the acquisition of Matna Foods, are aimed at strengthening the cassava value chain by ensuring a reliable offtake market for farmers. He added that the deployment of modern farming technologies has the potential to increase cassava yields from six tonnes per hectare to as much as 30 tonnes.

Speaking at the event, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, called for enhanced collaboration among government, traditional institutions and private investors to harness the economic potential of Nigeria’s forest resources, noting that large-scale agriculture could help address insecurity.

The monarch cited the transformation of Ekiti North as evidence of the benefits of such partnerships and urged Nigerians, particularly those in the diaspora, to invest in agriculture and industrial ventures to drive job creation.

Chairman of the Ekiti State Traditional Council, Oba Samuel Adu Adejimi Alagbado, encouraged traditional rulers to mobilise farmers to expand cassava cultivation, assuring them of a ready market, while urging workers to uphold values of integrity and discipline.

Representing Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Chief of Staff Oyeniyi Adebayo reiterated the government’s commitment to positioning Agbeyewa as a global leader in cassava production, while Prof. Charity Aremu and Commissioner of Police Michael Falade highlighted the need to address farmers’ challenges and sustain security across the state.