The Ekiti State former Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Olabode Adetoyi, has disclosed that the state attracted $350 million agricultural investments in the last two years.
He said several millions have been invested the sector covering food processing, manufacturing and fisheries.
Adetoyi disclosed this in a virtual forum on investments opportunities in the state.
He highlighted the Ikun Dairy Farm, a project for livestock and milk production which received an investment worth $5m from Promasidor as part of such projects that benefited from the investment drive.
Through investment in Ikun Dairy Farm, he said the company had been able to to purchase equipment, provide the appropriate herd of cattle, and develop an out-grower scheme for providing feed for the cattle.
Another on his list, was the Ekiti Cargo airport, which, according to him, has been established as an enabler of economic growth, to aid evacuation agricultural products from the Special Agriculture Processing Zone to distant markets.
The former commissioner also added that investment in Cargo airport, which he described as a critical component of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji-led administration’s growth strategy, will help make Ekiti an agro cargo vehicle, a knowledge hub, and a regional hub serving the southwest and middle belt food basket region.
He, therefore, called for investments from businesses in mechanisation in agricultural production; post-harvest preservation technology as well as processing technology of agricultural and aquatic products to create high value-added products.
He assured potential investors of preferential policies for those who would pour capital for the production; processing and consumption of agricultural products.
