Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has called on Federal Government to expedite action on the implementation of the Livestock Productivity and Resilient Support Project (L-PRES) aimed at improving livestock productivity, resilience and commercialization of selected value chain as well as strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to crisis and emergency.
The Governor also restated his administration’s commitment to harnessing every opportunity to revolutionize the agricultural sector for sustainable development and explore enduring partnership that would enhance productivity and resilience in the state.
Governor Oyebanji, who stated these on Thursday while playing host the Management team of L-PRES led by the National Coordinator, Mr. Sanusi Abubakar, and the World Bank L-PRES task team leader, Dr. Emmanuel Saani in his office in Ado Ekiti, stressed the importance of the project in addressing food security challenges and boosting the agricultural economy.
Maintaining that Agric business is time bound, the Governor urged the Federal Government to fastrack its protocols at ensuring the delivery of its dividend plan in the livestock sector of the state.
He emphasized that livestock production is a critical sector that can create jobs and generate revenue for the state and the country at large.
Explaining that the project is designed to enhance livestock farming practice, improve productivity and build resilience against climate risk, the Governor stated that the project aligns with his administration’s agenda to diversify the economy and make agriculture a primary contributor to the state’s GDP.
While assuring them that the state government would continue to fulfill its obligation of ensuring a successful implementation of the project, the Governor said his administration has taken proactive steps to rejig the agriculture sector with the establishment of broilers centers in three locations of the state while plans are underway to attract partners in the state for optimal business and processing.
“Mine is just to convey the appreciation of the state government to you for visiting us and to let you know that we are delighted about the opportunities that L-PRES is going to offer our people because it aligns with the pillars of our administration, agric and food security is a major pillar of our administration and livestock development is extremely key.
“The National Coordinator mentioned the issue of counterpart funds, I can assure you we will not fail in our obligations at getting things done.
“But my concern is the slow pace of implementation, I know there are process, protocols that you have to go through, but be mindful of time because agric business most of the time is time bound and when we delay unnecessarily, we will not have value for money”. The Governor asserted.
Earlier in their remarks, the National Coordinator of LPRESS, Mr. Sanusi Abubakar and the World Bank task team lead, Dr. Emmanuel Saani, told the Governor that they were in the state on a facility tour of the Livestock development centre in Erifun and Abbaitior at Iworoko road in Ado Ekiti. They appreciated and commended the state government for providing the necessary logistics for the project in the state.
While stating the readiness of the federal government, through the Live stock Productivity and Resilient Support Project to upcale the production of broiler in the state and build a new abattiour with modern equipment, they assured that the next four years target of the project would be evident in the livestock sector of the state.
Also in his own remark, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade said that the project would, in no small measure, develop the value chain and strengthen agricultural service in the state.
Also at the meeting were, Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akintunde Oyebode, State Cordinator LPRESS, Mr Olayinka Adedipe, team from the LPRESS National Office, and the World Bank Officials.
Packaged by Mayowa Owogbade
