With the start of the cultivation of 60 hectares (148 acres) in Iguoriakhi, Ovia South West Local Governments Area, Edo South Senatorial District of Edo State, the Edo State Government has begun cultivating 3,000 hectares of farmlands across the three Senatorial Districts of the State in preparation for the start of this year’s farming season.
Governor Okpebholo was given an inspection tour of the farm settlement by Dr. Osagie Peter, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture. Okpebholo said that his administration has embraced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which includes ensuring the nation’s food sufficiency.
After inspecting the farm, he said that his administration would replicate the farm settlement in Edo Central and Edo North.
He said, “We have embarked on our drive to embrace agriculture, which we will use to grow and develop the 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 and are ready to clear more. We will clear about 3,000 hectares as we embark 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.”
About 250 farm heads will profit from the project’s initial phase, according to Dr. Peter, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Edo State. He pointed out that a sizeable amount of the 2,300 hectares of farmland in the Government’s Iguoriakhi Farm Settlement is already devoted to permanent crops like rubber and palm palms.
According to him, the farm settlement was purchased in 1962. A portion of its 2,350 hectares is planted to permanent crops, including rubber and oil palm.
