Ekiti sets up storage facilities for farm produce
To combat food scarcity and promote food sufficiency, the Ekiti State Government has launched a proactive initiative by establishing agricultural storage facilities across the state. This development aims to purchase produce from farmers during harvest seasons, store them, and release them strategically to mitigate scarcity and stabilize food prices. The initiative aligns with the federal directive by President Bola Tinubu, emphasizing food security as a national priority.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji, during an inspection of one such facility in Ado-Ekiti, highlighted the administration’s commitment to reducing post-harvest losses and fostering year-round food sufficiency. The project also builds on Ekiti’s achievement of cultivating over 6,000 hectares of farmland in 2024. These facilities address the storage challenges faced in prior years, ensuring the state is better prepared for future food crises.
A notable aspect of the initiative is its support for youth in agriculture, with a significant portion of produce sourced from young farmers participating in the “Bring Back Youth in Agriculture” program. Governor Oyebanji reiterated the administration’s resolve to alleviate hunger, create agricultural opportunities for young people, and provide good governance.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Boluwade Ebenezer, affirmed that the program not only addresses hunger but also promotes youth involvement in agribusiness, fostering economic growth in the sector.
Source: DailyTrust
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders:
The Ekiti State Government’s establishment of storage facilities is a commendable step in addressing perennial food insecurity and price volatility. By ensuring post-harvest storage and market regulation, the initiative directly contributes to reducing food losses—a critical issue in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector. Moreover, the integration of youth in the supply chain strengthens the future of agriculture while addressing unemployment.
This model underscores the importance of combining storage infrastructure with deliberate market interventions to achieve food system resilience. By actively purchasing from local farmers and strategically releasing stored goods, the initiative prevents exploitative market dynamics during periods of scarcity. Additionally, linking this effort to federal food security directives enhances policy coherence and paves the way for broader impact.
Recommendations for Stakeholders:
- Youth Empowerment Programs: Scale up the “Bring Back Youth in Agriculture” initiative with enhanced funding and training opportunities. Empowering youth with agribusiness skills will ensure a sustainable supply chain.
- Technology Integration: Invest in digital tools like inventory management systems and blockchain for traceability, ensuring efficient storage and distribution.
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Collaborate with private-sector players to enhance storage capacity and introduce value-added processing for stored goods, increasing market value.
- Climate-Resilient Practices: Integrate climate-smart agriculture into the state’s food production strategy to enhance productivity and reduce risks from unpredictable weather patterns.
- Community Engagement: Include local farmers in decision-making processes to ensure buy-in and address grassroots challenges effectively.
