Ondo State Government has again being commended for judicious utilization of commercial agricultural loan granted it by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for rapid transformation of the sector which has provided job opportunities and wealth creation for the youth in the state.
The Head of Devepolment Finance and Project Management Office, CBN, Mr Odufote Badejoko gave the commendation during an inspection tour of projects and programmes executed by the State Wealth Creation Agency (WECA).
Mr Odufote, who led other officials of the Bank on the tour expressed his delight at the facilities put in place at some Agro Business Cities visited, commended the present administration for investing massively in the agricultural sector with the aim of addressing the problem of unemployment and food insecurity in the state.
He said " I am happy and delighted with all I have seen and inspected so far, and I want to commend your Governor for massive investment on agriculture which would reduce unemployment in the state''.
Earlier in her remarks, the Chairman of the State Wealth Creation Agency (WECA) Mrs Bolanle Olafumiloye reaffirmed the commitment of the present administration to making agriculture more altractive to the youth in order to increase production of agricultural commodities, thereby enhancing food security, economic prosperity and sustainable development.
Mrs Bolanle Olafumiloye who led the team to Ore and Epe Agro-business Cities in Odigbo and Ondo East Local Government Area of the state respectively, explained that Mimiko-led administration is commited to harnessing agriculture and agro-allied opportunities as tools to empower youth for wealth creation and bring about desired economic development.
She said the four Agro-Business Citties built in the three Senatorial Districts of the state are agricultural training and agro-business incubation centers that allow the Profarmers and Agropreneurs to spend minimum of 18 months to learn and practice the business of agriculture through the entire value chain of production, processing, packaging, preservation and marketing.
The Chairman, who said the Agency has worked with over 400 graduates and about 1000 skilled and unskilled workers, explained that over 1000 hectares of land were cleared last year for cassava and maize cultivation.
Mrs Olafunmiloye explained that two hectares were allocated to each Profermers for maize cultivation and four hectares for those that are into cassava plantation, adding that all neccessary farm implement and input were provided by the state government.
The Chairman highlighted some projects and programmes of the Agency to include the establishment of a thousand birds daily capacity chicken processing plant with supporting facilities in Akure, rearing and fattening of Cows, Silk and Textile production, honey production and processing and palm oil plantation among others.
Some sections visited are Hostel accomodation, farm clinic, newly completed Basketball, recreation facilities , maize cribs, perimeter fencing, cassava and maize plantation, ongoing cassava processing factory, poultry pens, fish ponds and farm implement.
