The Fadama Care Office in Ekiti State has reported that over the past eighteen months, no fewer than 200,000 farmers in the state have received support through its intervention programs. Mrs. Olayemi Okunlola, the Project Coordinator of Fadama Cares in Ekiti State, mentioned that additional farmers still have the opportunity to benefit during the remaining six months of the two-year initiative, which is jointly sponsored by the World Bank, the Federal Government, and the Ekiti State Government.
Speaking during a tour of Fadama Cares Result Area 2 beneficiary farmers and projects across the three senatorial areas of Ekiti State, Okunlola, represented by Yomi Ogunrinde, the Communications Officer of Ekiti Fadama Cares, highlighted various areas of intervention. These included upgraded markets, plantain processing, Iru (locust beans) processing, smoking kiln, fish pond, poultry production/processing, cassava processing, and farm road rehabilitation.
The project coordinator emphasized that the program aims to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on farmers, and its success has led to calls for an extension from both state governments and farmers. The beneficiaries, who are required to form cooperatives, play an active role in determining the areas where they need government support.
Okunlola urged beneficiaries to responsibly use and maintain the equipment provided to ensure sustainability. The Iyalaje of Shasha Market, Chief Feyisayo Ayajo, noted the positive impact of the upgraded market project, specifically the provided toilet and solar-powered borehole that contributed to ending open defecation in the area. Mrs. Abosede Oyekunle, leader of the Dominion Group in Ikere-Ekiti, expressed gratitude for the Industrial Slicing Machine and 40 litres Deep fryer provided free of charge, emphasizing the significant benefit to their plantain and potato chips production businesses.
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