In continuation of the efforts of the Ondo State Government towards combating the rising cost of food items and promoting all round agricultural development to ensure food security in the State, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has approved the constitution of “Agriculture and Food Security Committee.”
The governor, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said members are drawn from private sectors and seasoned politicians.
The chairman of the committee is Rotimi Wemimo-Akinsola, a businessman who runs Wems Agro, an integrated rice producing firm
Others are Rev. Gideon Oluleye – Vice Chairman, Mr. Abayomi Monilari,Mr. Obaweya Gbenga,Mr. Fabiyi Omolade, Prof. Adefolakemi Gabriel-Ajobiewe, Chief Abiodun Adejo ,
Mr. Gbenga Akingbasote, Mrs. F.O Tunde-Daramola and Mrs. Tayo Ogundare
The committee which has since swung into action on its terms of reference, which include: to advise on immediate and sustainable measures to bring down the rising costs of food stuff and to strategically engage all relevant actors/stakeholders in the agri-food sector with a view to developing a long-term food security plan for the State.
Other responsibilities of the committee include making recommendations on how to attract and retain the younger generation in agribusiness and its entire value chain; formulating policies that would help boost food production and nutrition in line with global best practices; facilitating the procurement and distribution of food production and nutrition in palliatives; and making any other recommendation(s) as may be appropriate to ensure food security in the State.
The Ondo State Executive Council had recently approved the sum of N3.47 billion counterpart funds for the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
The RAMP project would see many feeder roads asphalted to connect rural dwellers to cities and drive the economy of the state through agriculture.
