Somtochukwu

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, on Thursday said his administration was focus on growing Cash crops to replace oil for the purpose of generating the much sort after foreign earnings for the country. 

Governor Akeredolu emphasized the need to explore the value chain of Cocoa to boost the revenue inflow of the state and generate employment for the teeming youth. 

The Governor who spoke while playing host to the National Project Office of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) said what oil is contributing to the economy is dwindling. 

While stressing the need to grow Cocoa as a cash crop to improve the economy, Governor Akeredolu said the investment of the State Government on Cocoa Plantations in some parts of the state particularly at Jugbere in Owo Local Government Area, was a deliberate move to develop cash crop which the state has greater comparative advantage. 

He said that the state was also focusing on cassava plantation to meet the demands of Ethanol Producing Factory in Ore and at various Starch Producing Factories across the state.

Arakunrin Akeredolu disclosed that his administration was also making waves in the Poultry sub-sector through the Powdered Egg Project in Emure-Ile , which he said direct and indirect jobs would be created in thousands with unqualified multiplier effects. 

He noted that his administration was also leveraging on its aquatic potentials being a coastal state to develop aquaculture and create jobs for the people. 

Earlier, the National Coordinator of IFAD, Engr. Abiodun Sanni has commended Governor Akeredolu for his unrelenting dedication to the promotion of Agriculture and it’s value chains. 

He said the demonstrated interest of the Governor at using agriculture as a veritable vehicle for job and wealth creation brought about the partnership of IFAD with the state.

Engr. Sanni who was happy that the state was the first to pay up its counterpart funds among the states in Nigeria ,assured that it’s Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises for Niger-Delta,code-named LIFE-ND, would impact the lives of over 4,250 direct beneficiaries and 20,000 indirect beneficiaries within the six years of the project. 

Olabode Richard Olatunde
Special Assistant to the Governor (New Media) 
December 10, 2020. 

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