Food Security: Okpebholo Earmarks 3,000 Hectares Of Land For Farming

The Edo State government has started the cultivation of 3,000 hectares of farmlands across the three senatorial districts of the state.

It has already commenced cultivating 60 hectares (148 acres) in Iguoriakhi, Ovia South West local government area, Edo South Senatorial District of Edo State, for this year’s farming season.

The move by the Edo State Government is the first phase of the back-to-farm project of Governor Monday Okpebholo, whose administration has keyed into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, part of which is food sufficiency for the nation.

The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Osagie Peter, took Okpebholo on an inspection tour of the farm settlement.

After inspecting the farm, the governor noted that his administration would replicate the farm settlement in Edo Central and Edo North to ensure food sufficiency in the state.

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He explained that his administration is keying into the federal government’s plan to feed the nation with the initiative and assured the farmers of support to ensure adequate food production during this year’s farming season.

“We have embarked on our drive to embrace agriculture, which we will use to grow and develop Edo economy. This is the second time I have entered the bush to ensure we produce food for our people.

“We have cleared large numbers of hectares of land as we are ready to clear more. We will clear about 3,000 hectares as we have embarked on the first stage.
We will still have similar farm settlements in Edo Central and Edo North.

“We are ready to farm, and we are not going back in line with Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which is part of feeding the nation. We have keyed into the agenda. As far as Edo State is concerned, it is back to the farm.”

For his part, Dr. Peter, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture in Edo State, noted that about 250 farm heads will benefit from the first phase of the project.

He noted that the government’s Iguoriakhi Farm Settlement, with about 2,300 hectares of farmlands, already has a significant portion allocated to permanent crops, such as palm and rubber trees.

“Welcome to Government’s Iguoriakhi Farm Settlement. It was acquired in 1962, and it is 2,350 hectares. A great part of it has been dedicated to permanent crops, including oil palm and rubber.

“We have already cleared about 60 hectares (148 acres), ready for tractorization. By the time we are through with the tractorization, about five hectares will be given to a farm group. This place will be able to accommodate 250 active farm heads, and it will guarantee food security in Edo South and beyond.