By Ogbebor Tony Ikponmwosa
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that his administration is developing an action plan for sustainable and efficient management of land for agriculture.
The Governor stated this while speaking at the Farmers’ Stakeholders’ Workshop with the theme “Valuable Proposition for Sustainable Arable Land in Edo State,” held at the Government House in Benin City.
Speaking at the event, the Governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., commended the partnership with Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), Edo State Agricultural committee and other stakeholders in the State.
Obaseki said the meeting was aimed at developing an action plan for sustainable and efficient management of land for agriculture in Edo State and to create actionable solutions for implementation of propositions from the committee and various stakeholders.
He added that access to land plays a major role in determining the growth of agriculture in the State and reassured that the propositions from PIND and the multi-stakeholders committee would eradicate any constraints in getting access to arable lands, while emphasizing the priority on food security, agricultural self-sufficiency and rural development.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO), Mr. Kelvin Uwaibi, said the Edo State Government is committed to supporting farmers in the State.
While noting that Nigeria is ranked among the top seven countries with arable lands in the world, Mr. Uwaibi stressed that the current administration is ready to partner with communities and farmers in the State to guarantee food security and ensure that Edo becomes a major exporter of food products in Nigeria and the world at large.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Agriculture and Food Security, Peter Aikhuomobhogbe, who also spoke at the workshop, said that global inflationary pressures and particularly in rising food prices have been attributed to the war in Ukraine, adding that the solution to food security and combating inflation lies in smallholder farming.
Mr. Aikhuomobhogbe noted that small holder farmers in Nigeria provide 70 percent of the food consumed in Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary, while attributing some of the factors affecting agriculture in Nigeria to lack of investment in the sector and lack of accessible water and manpower, emphasized that lack of lands for farming has become a major and recurring factor.
He applauded the efforts of the State Government in building positive relationships with communities and creating sustainable access to arable lands for farmers and investors in the State while adding that intensive land use for agriculture will boost agriculture in the State.
On his part, Mr. Chuks Ofahie who represented the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in Niger Delta (PIND) thanked Edo State Government for its partnership, saying PIND is committed to stimulating peaceful collaboration between States in the Niger Delta and ensuring economic development especially in the area of agriculture which plays a vital role in developing the economy of any society.
The PIND representative said the organization is determined to support an increase in productivity in the sector while placing focus on small holder farming.
According to him, so far 6,000 farmers have benefited from PIND in Edo State and support for service providers across all the value chains has been made available, while farmers have been given access to finance and loans with low interest rates. Most importantly, he said they are determined to ensure that access to land for farming becomes a thing of the past.
While thanking the participants, the Permanent Secretary said the propositions and reports from the workshop would be addressed and positively implemented, assuring that the State Government is determined to involve farmers in the decision making process that would encourage agricultural development in the State.
