Food security: Ondo to establish 2,000 hectares of farmland per district

The Ondo State Government has unveiled plans to establish farm clusters and allocate 2,000 hectares of farmland in each senatorial district to enhance food security and revolutionize agribusiness in the state.

Rotimi Akinsola, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture and Agric Business, disclosed this on Saturday during an event at the Soilless Farm Lab in Ogun State. He stated that the initiative is part of an executive plan by the new administration to strengthen the agricultural sector.

“In Ondo State, with the new administration, we are implementing an executive agro-business plan, setting up both senatorial and cluster farms. Each senatorial district will have 2,000 hectares of farmland, managed by the private sector,” Akinsola said.

He explained that private sector management would ensure efficiency and sustainability, integrating modern agricultural techniques. The initiative will also leverage the expertise of 10 Ondo State candidates currently undergoing training at the Soilless Farm Lab under the Mastercard Foundation’s Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture (EYiA) project.

Akinsola further revealed that the government would sponsor an additional 100 youths for the next batch of the EYiA program in April. He emphasized the importance of integrating trained youths with local farmers to boost productivity and promote best agricultural practices.

He also hinted at potential collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation to establish similar training facilities in Ondo State, allowing more youths to access modern agricultural education locally.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Joy Obodo, the Admin Officer at the Soilless Farm Lab, stated that over 1,000 youths nationwide are currently undergoing training in modern farming and agribusiness.

Beneficiaries of the program, Blessing Ebahodaghe and Oluwatobi Oni, expressed appreciation to the state government and pledged to apply their knowledge to improve agriculture in their communities.

The initiative is expected to enhance food security, generate employment, and encourage youth participation in agriculture, ultimately driving economic growth in Ondo State.