“Ounje Ekiti programme is part of the state government’s broader efforts to promote food security, support farmers and cushion the effects of rising food prices on residents”
By John Odunayo
Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, has said that efforts are on to expand the outlets for ‘Ounje Ekiti’ a food initiative of the state government to make it accessible to more residents.
Under the initiative aimed at making staple foods more affordable for households, residents are purchasing food items such as rice, maize, beans and garri at highly reduced prices.
Boluwade said that “the food items are sourced from farmers within the state, including youths engaged in agricultural programmes. The initiative is also providing a ready market for their produce”.
Buyers at centres located at Shasha BAO, Agric Olope and the Fountain Agricultural Marketing Agency (FAMA) at the Old Governor’s Office, are full of praises to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, for the initiative.
The buyers described the programme as timely, noting that access to staple foods at reduced prices had helped to ease financial pressure on many households and had helped families cope with the rising cost of food.
The beneficiaries are, however, appealing to the government to expand the number of outlets across the state to enable more residents to benefit from the initiative.
They also called for the inclusion of additional food items in the scheme.
Boluwade in a chat, said, “The government is already working to expand the outlets across the state to improve accessibility”.
He said the initiative was part of the state government’s response to food insecurity and post-harvest losses.
The commissioner said that the programme focused on improving food storage, aggregation and distribution while ensuring that residents had access to affordable food items.
The Executive Secretary of Fountain Agricultural Marketing Agency, Mr Adedayo Alofe, said “the objective of making food available and affordable for residents was gradually being realised through steady patronage at the centres”.
Alofe urged more residents to take advantage of the opportunity.
Also, the agency’s Director of Marketing Operations, Adegboye Olubusola, said measures were being introduced to discourage hoarding and ensure fair distribution of the food items.
Officials say the Ounje Ekiti programme is part of the state government’s broader efforts to promote food security, support farmers and cushion the effects of rising food prices on residents.
