YCAD Graduation Speech

A SPEECH OF THE GOVERNOR OF EKITI STATE, DR. KAYODE FAYEMI AT THE GRADUATION OF 150 PARTICIPANTS AND DECLARATION OF A N500 MILLIONCREDIT FACILITY FOR ARABLE PRODUCTION HELD IN ADO- TH EKITI ON MONDAY, 6 AUGUST, 2012PROTOCOLIt is my pleasure to welcome you all to this epoch making ceremony. Iconsider it so as we are at this event living witnesses to a revolutionsweeping through our land to change the course of farming as we knew itin our chequered history of economic survival and sustenance.We all know through the ages that our fathers toiled to till the ground tobring the fruits of the field to sustain themselves and family members inmost inconvenient agonizing ways. One common feature of that era was awhole army of farmers scattered in small portions on expanses of landreaping insignificantly little from massive labour and efforts. The implements oftrade were cutlasses and holes which they deployed for cultivation. These indeed

were tools of slavery and retardation. Commercialization of agricultural activitiesthen was an herculean task for those who ventured into it. It is thereforeunderstandable why farming is unattractive to the youths of this generation who,of course, rightly view it as a sign of life failures and backwardness.The policy of this administration, as captured in the 8 Point Agenda, is to changethis orientation for the benefit of the State and its people considering ourcomparative advantage in agricultural activities for economic rejuvenationand growth.Beside this, a recently released “African Human Development Report” bythe United Nations noted that high rates of economic growth have notprevented nearly a quarter of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa from beingaffected by hunger. I need not over flog the issue that our currently reportedgrowth rate in Nigeria is hinged on extractive sector gains. This suggests that“Nigeria without oil” is a risk that must be mitigated with all attention.

We will need to develop a base for an inclusive and resilient economy bydiversifying our economy through a focused commercial agricultural developmentagenda.As you know, significant and rapid growth can only be achieved with thoroughattention on driving the practice of agriculture as a business. This can only beachieved by empowering and providing more opportunities for young peoplewithin the agricultural space.Let me say today, that without effective policies and agenda on youthdevelopment, the benefits of economic growth will continue to bypass asignificant proportion of Nigerians, including our teeming population of youths.Deliberate policies focused on building capacity and incentivising youth intoagriculture must be embarked upon. Policies that will aggressively createan enabling environment for youth participation in agri-business should bethe bedrock of our diversification agenda.

I like to make it very clear that the State Government is directing itsattention on deliberate policy measures and targeted investments aimed atfacilitating the participation of youths in practicing modern agriculture, ascommercial entity. This is currently being framed by our managerial andentrepreneurship capacity building programme for emergent farmers in theState.This managerial and entrepreneurship training programme, the participantshave just undergone, is expected to prepare them for a future in agricultureand consolidate their knowledge as commercial agri-business managers. Iam glad with the level of drill that you have undergone over the past twoweeks. My hope is that you will take the knowledge gained with allseriousness in becoming successful commercial farmers of envy.I want you to be assured that the government would provide a strong andprotected enabling environment, with required access to resources neededto sustain and give entrepreneurial youths with the advantage required inoperating successful agricultural businesses. Specifically, I will not relent

on my effort in ensuring that access to finance, developed land, technologyand necessary market are guaranteed.Let me announce to you, that I have approved about N500 million creditfacilities, at single digit interest rate, to young and emergent farmers withinthe YCAD Cooperative Union in Ekiti State. Today, you will all have accessto an expandable credit facility of not less than N1.4 million each to boostcommercial production of High Value Crop such as Rice, Cassava, Oil-palm and Cocoa. However, its worth noting that this is not a stipendarrangement for unemployed youths. A performance based structure hadbeen built into the disbursement dynamics to de-emphasis cashdisbursement, but emphasise effective business fund utilization for deliveryof this programme’s objective.I am delighted to inform you that my government, with the support ofUNDP, had finalized the engagement of the service of a Business SupportManager to consolidate management of your individual businesses. The

manager, with vast technical and farm business management skills, willhelp in hand-holding you to drive a successful commercial agriculturaloperation. Also, with several millions of naira committed to the purchase offarm equipment such as planters, boom sprayers, seed drills etc, he willsupport you in the usage of these newly acquired modern farm equipmentfor commercial plantation operations.As you aware, it will require almost N2 million to open up 10hactare land forcommercial operation. The State Government had made adequatepreparation in ensuring that this is taken off your budget with the provisionof at least 10hactares of developed land for each of you. As at today, over1000hactares of newly acquired land is being opened and developed intotractorable land for your uptake. Also, over 2,000hactares government landhas been allocated for your existing operation and cultivation.I am confident that your operations would boost our target of putting tocultivation several thousand hectares of land in agriculture. This is

expected to directly and indirectly engage 20,000 youths by 2014. My hopealso is to use the platform provided by the training of these young farmers,under the newly established YCAD Cooperative Union, to feed the SouthWestern market of Nigeria with vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes,watermelon and leafy vegetables, hence assuring food security in Ekiti andkey markets like Lagos and Ibadan.A lot of you will also be required to join in commercial nursery operationsunder our cocoa and oil-palm nursery programme, while others will comeon-board of several medium scale processing businesses in a bid toconsolidate your commercial endeavours and build the entire agriculturalvalue chain.Let me also hint you today that a robust commercial livestock productionand development programmes being designed to engage youths in poultry,fisheries, and piggery production and processing across the state. In a bidto assure a sustainable venture within this space, the State Government iscurrently finalizing arrangements with experienced private sector

institutions to run livestock out-grower scheme with youths. Uponfinalization of this intervention programme, several tonnes of poultry,fisheries and piggery products will be produced by youths from Ekiti State.Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, with the support of all stakeholdersand particularly the Honourable Minister who has given Ekiti State keyattention and support under his Agricultural Transformation Agenda, theState government is currently finalizing plans for the establishment of aninnovative College of Agriculture in collaboration with institutions such asAGCO’s Future Farmers Programme. This effort is expected to yield theestablishment of a model mechanized farming and learning center withinthe proposed college facility. The college will offer training courses rangingfrom basic mechanized agronomy and livestock production technique tohigh tech mechanization.

It will also offer training on handling high specification equipment (such astractors and harvesters) and other precision farming technology. AGCO willsupport the college with specialized equipment to run a model farm andalso train on latest technology in grain handling and storage techniques.The college facility is expected to sit on a 4,000ha land that will include theproposed model farm. Successful farmers from your team are expected toform part of the initial intake of the college to consolidate on your acquiredtechnical skills.Let me use this opportunity to thank the Honourable Minister, who was atthe launch of the YCAD programme some months ago and now coming into check on the progress of the programme and its participants. I wish toassure you Honourable Minister, of an excellent output towards the effortsof the Federal Government in relentlessly supporting the state’s AgriculturalAgenda.

I want to congratulate the 150 graduating participants of this intensive ILObusiness management training - “Start and Improve Your Business”programme. The journey to commercial agriculture and economicsustainability has just begun.Thank you and God bless.

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YCAD Graduation Speech

by Government of Ekiti State, Nigeria on Aug 06, 2012

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YCAD Graduation Speech Document Transcript