The Ekiti state governor and Dutch investment group, Villam Agric Ltd have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on N3.5 billion agric project to help the state speed up the abundance of agricultural fortunes by leveraging technology in farming activities. 

Managing Director of Villam Rene Havema and the state governor, Kayode Fayemi signed the agreement, enabling both institutions to collaborate with other stakeholders to convert the state’s knowledge capacity to agric technology, higher productivity and yield, and reduction in post-harvest losses that the state had suffered for years.

Indicating the partnership support for agriculture, the governor said: “It is time for us to do it as Nigeria confronts the challenges of the implications COVID-19 on our oil where the price of our oil is going down.” 

Fayemi explained that Ekiti used to be the cocoa capital of Nigeria and hopes that with the various interventions from both local and international agricultural players, the state would soon bounce back to its original position in the sector.

According to the Managing Director, the importance of providing food for the people is essential especially during a crisis like the coronavirus outbreak the world is facing. “Large storage facility available in the state should not be left idle again, but should be made to benefit both the investor and the state,” he said. 

Havema urged farmers in the state to increase their production during this planting season as he planned to ensure market conformity prices with his organization set to buy directly from farmers at attractive prices. Villam would also upgrade the silos and by November set up a maize processing plant in the state. 

Speaking on other investments in the state, Fayemi said Ekiti is also gearing up to commence the production of 10,000 litres of milk per day with a partnership from Promasidor. “Promasidor in the dairy sector, they are helping us with the resuscitation of our moribund dairy farm and we expect that by the time the current processes are completed about 12 to 18 months, they promised that they would be delivering 10,000 litres of milk per day in Ekiti which can then go into the market.”

By Ahmed Iyanda.

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