The Federal Government has approved the establishment of a Food Processing Equipment and Machinery Development Institute (FOPEMDI) in Ekiti State, marking another milestone in the state’s agricultural advancement.
In a letter addressed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Halilu, requested the provision of basic facilities, including land for a permanent site and a temporary location for the immediate take-off of the institute.
Reacting to the development, the State’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, expressed delight, noting that the state has benefited from multiple Federal Government interventions in recent weeks.
He attributed this to the state government’s diligence, resourcefulness, and commitment to shared prosperity.
Boluwade expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, stating that the establishment of FOPEMDI reflects the President’s commitment to Ekiti’s development and his prioritisation of agricultural advancement in the state.
It will be recalled that the Federal Government recently designated Ekiti State as the pilot state for agriculture in the South West.
Additionally, the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) selected Ekiti for an Agricultural Skills Programme, while the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security sited the first soil assessment
laboratory in the South West within the state, providing farmers in Ekiti and neighbouring states with easier access to soil testing services.
