Dr. Olabode Adetoyi

 

Agriculture expert and former Commissioner for Agriculture in Ekiti State, Dr. Olabode Adetoyi, has urged the incoming government at the centre, to review all existing policies on agriculture to enable the sector operate maximally.

 

 

Adetoyi gave this advice recently, while speaking to select media practitioners in Lagos.

 

The former commissioner, who is also the founder, Hi Nutrients, a subsidiary of  ADM Animal/Nutrition USA,  noted that it has  also become imperative to evaluate enabling laws and mandates of agencies under Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to enable them perform effectively.

 

He therefore tasked the president-elect, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, on the need to bring up a comprehensive paper on the way forward, regarding agricultural production, identify existing farm settlements across the country and take census of the occupants.

 

 

Adetoyi, who is also the Chairman Youth in Commercial Agriculture Development, Ekiti State, also asked the President-Elect to identify constraints of occupants of the farm settlement and develop immediate relief package that would go a long way in eliminating such constraints.

 

He stressed the need for  FMARD & NDE (under Federal Ministry of Labor) to open collation of citizens (youths under 40years),  interested in making a career out of Agriculture, through data collection form (simple Google form) along geopolitical zones.

 

The former commissioner argued that the collation, which should be opened for 21days for 1st batch, should  target 60,000 participants (10,000 participant per geopolitical zone) and open up farm support model for youth farmers across the country through input supply and output take- up model

 

“In first 100 days in office, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu should review all existing policies on Agriculture and determine the hindrances preventing the implementation.

 

“Evaluate enabling laws and mandates of agencies under FMARD and bring up a comprehensive paper on the way forward on agricultural production for executive actions

 

“The incoming government should also identify existing farm settlements across the country, take census of the occupants and also identify constraints of occupants of the farm settlement,” he added.

 

Adetoyi, who is currently the Chairman/ Founder of Value Ingredients Ltd Lagos, with a branch in Ado Ekiti, was  Director, Fountain Holdings Ltd (an investment arm of Ekiti State), Chairman Youth in Commercial Agriculture Development Ekiti State, Member Ekiti -State Covid 19 Resource Mobilization Committee, and also Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security Ekiti State, between 31st August 2020 – 15th October, 2022.