Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to bolstering food security and infrastructure development with a recent inspection of the Uwesan Farm Settlement in Esan Central Local Government Area and the Illeh, Akho, Irrua road project.
The Governor’s visit to the Uwesan Farm Settlement underscored the state’s dedication to enhancing agricultural activities and achieving food self-sufficiency. Accompanied by investors, Governor Okpebholo expressed his gratitude for their participation, emphasizing the readiness of the state to improve agricultural output.
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“I want to thank our investors who came here with us to inspect the Uwesan Farm Settlement. We have prepared this for farming. We have farm settlements like this in Edo South, Edo Central, and another in Edo North, which will boost food security in the State,” Governor Okpebholo stated.
He further added, “Anytime from next week, planting will commence. This is a milestone achievement. The land is very fertile. We are very serious about farming in order to ensure our people have enough food to eat.”
The governor highlighted the planned cultivation of corn and cassava on the 400-hectare site. “We have 400 hectares of land here, and we will plant corn and cassava. Food sufficiency is our focus, and we will do everything to ensure we succeed,” he affirmed.
He also expressed optimism about future collaborations with technical partners following this initial visit. “I am happy that our investors are here with us to see the farm settlement themselves. This is their first visit and by the time they will be coming again, they will come with their technical partners,” he said.
Earlier, Governor Okpebholo inspected the ongoing construction of the 2.3km Illeh, Akho, Irrua road, which includes side drains designed to manage water runoff. Expressing satisfaction with the quality of work, the Governor explained the road’s strategic importance in connecting Esan Central and Esan West Local Government Areas. He reiterated his commitment to continued oversight, ensuring that contractors maintain the specified quality and collaborate effectively with the Ministry of Works.
Dr. Peter Osagie, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, elaborated on the significance of the Uwesan Farm Settlement, noting the strong community support for the initiative. “This is Uwesan, and we are collaborating with the people of this area because it is a communal land of over 400 hectares. We have a guarantee from the community to expand further,” Dr. Osagie explained.
He further detailed the planned focus on cassava farming, emphasizing its versatility for both animal and human consumption, and its importance for the state’s ethanol production. “In the first instance, this place will be used for cassava farming because it has multiple uses both as animal and human feed.
Right now, the animal feed industry is experiencing a shortage of maize supply, and the state wants to bridge that gap,” Dr. Osagie said. “In Edo State, we have two ethanol plants that use cassava as a stock. Right now, cassava farmers are automatic millionaires because off-take is guaranteed.” He concluded by stating the intention to expand cassava cultivation to 400 hectares, ensuring a guaranteed off-take for farmers in Edo State.