JDPI Partners Ekiti Govt to Hold Organic Agriculture Day, Competitions in Schools, Others

Justice Development and Peace Initiative, JDPI, of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti has partnered with the Ekiti State government to hold Organic Agriculture Day and competitions among secondary schools to boost organic farming.

This was part of the resolutions at the tripartite meeting between JDPI, Ekiti State government and Stakeholders in Organic Agriculture held at the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agric and Food Security, Ado-Ekiti.

In his opening remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ekiti State Ministry of Agric and Food Security, Engr. Gbenga Odesanmi appreciated JDPI for the laudable project while assuring of the commitment of the state government to support organic farming.

On his part, Director of JDPI, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Akingbade presented a 17-point necessary needs for intervention by the state government on promotion of organic agriculture in Ekiti State.

He registered his appreciation to the state governor for the development of the state in the areas of appointment of commissioners, road rehabilitation, palliatives and distribution of items to communities.

The meeting including representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture and Education, Stakeholders in Organic Agriculture, Media and JDPI resolved to introduce programmes to enhance organic agriculture in the state.

They resolved to organise an Organic Agriculture Day which will come up once every month across thr various local government areas of the state where farmers are expected to showcase their organic produce.

Also, there will be a secondary schools competition among students in the state to catch them young and reignite their interest in organic agriculture.

Additionally, the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti and Ekiti State University will be used as pilot schools for organic agriculture.

Part of the resolutions reached at the meeting is to replicate the SOGHAI farm in Ekiti State at either the northern axis or central axis of the state which will be linked with the existing government projects.

The Permanent Secretary gave his assurances that organic farmers will benefit from the government subsidy programme on tractorization adding that awards and empowerment will be given to organic farmers to boost production.

Also, on the issue of certification of organic farmers, they collectively agreed the PGS should certify first while SON would be required to certify if the produce are going internationally.

It was agreed that there would be of construction of perimeter fence for schools in order to safeguard their farms, while the Permanent Secretary said that government are on top of matters relating to farmers-herders issues.