By Muftau Ogunyemi
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has called on Ondo State Government for more collaboration to enhance the agricultural sector in the state.
Mr Tony Otuonye, FMARD State Coordinator made the call during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Olayato Aribo, on Wednesday in Akure.
Otuonye, who explained that he was in the ministry to inform the commissioner about the FMARD projects in the state, said that there would be a lot of gain for the state government if they maintained the cordial relationship existing between them.
The FMARD state coordinator said that communities, states and local governments, settlements, associations among others had benefitted from the ministry in the state.
According to him, the state government must be ready to play their own roles because it is through these collaborations that will enable them get the Federal Government attention.
Otuonye also frowned at the high incident of vandalisation among Federal Government’s projects in the state, and appealed to state government and beneficiary communities for more, adequate protection for their benefit.
“Out of three solar boreholes at Ondo town, one has been vandalized completely and is no more useful for the community.
“Also at Akure town, one of the pumps of a solar borehole installed has been removed that costs N650,000 as at then and which is now sold over N1million.
“At Ile-Oluji in Ile-Oluji/ Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of the state where a giant werehouse was built, it has also been vandalised. Also at the same Ile-Oluji, a mini water treatment plant which cost FG over N200million was not managed well and vandalised.
“I can assure you, if the place is managed well, it will empower many people in the community, especially if it’s in use and it will generate a lot of revenue for both the local and state government.
“It now behoves the state government, local government, communities and others to protect our projects in the state for them to get more FG interventions,” he said.
Responding, Mr Olayato Aribo, State Commissioner for Agriculture, who appreciated the FMARD and state coordinator for the projects executed across the state, called for more support and intervention from the Federal Government in the state.
Aribo, while speaking on the project’s vandalisation in the state, promised the state government’s readiness to protect all the FMARD projects in the state.
“We are ready to partner more with the Federal Government to eradicate poverty in our society through agriculture. And our people will be very happy to feel the impact of the Federal Government in the state.
“Though, I can say that Ondo State did not benefited much from the Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture compared with the other states in the country, because ours is just five per cent.
“So, on vandalisation, the state government will do the needful. I am imploring our community leaders, obas and chiefs to monitor and protect the Federal Government projects for the benefit of their communities,” he said.(NAN)
FG, Ondo govt. seek more collaboration on agriculture
