By Francis Ogwo
As Nigeria seeks for viable strategies out of depleting fortunes and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, agriculture has been touted as one key sector that Edo State would key into towards maintaining stability.
According to a recent report, the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, in a recent project assessment tour in one of the States’ Colleges of Agriculture disclosed that the State will focus on exploring opportunities in the agricultural value chain in surviving the post COVID-19 period.
Obaseki assured of the State government’s commitment to building the capacity of the youths towards self sustainability and human capital development.
In a recent comment from the governor as reported, he was said to have disclosed that;
“Our focus is on creating an agriculture-based post COVID-19 economy. We can’t do that without skilled people to run the economy.” he said, while reiterating his resolve to redesigning the master plan of the College of Agriculture without political undertones towards boosting the fortunes of the State.
Recent reports reveal several projects on agricultural development. The State Government had embarked on a multi-faceted agricultural development scheme, backed by the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Elephant Group, and series of other lenders.
Crops in focus include cassava, maize, rice, which are currently cultivated in different locations across the state, including Ilushi, Iguoriakhi, Sobe, Warake, Iguomon, Agenebode, Usugbenu, Ekpoma, among others.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, had disclosed that the State has more than 10,600 hectares of land under cultivation in different parts of the State.
