The Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the creation of Ondo Agricultural City in Iju-Agbonrin/Ori-Ohin in Ose Local Government of the state by a firm, KONIG Agriculture Ltd.
The project, worth $42m, was under the supervision of the Federal Government’s Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-intensive Agriculture initiative.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Leye Akinola, stated this in a statement made available to our correspondent on Sunday, 24 hours after signing a land-lease contract as a guarantor between community landowners and a firm, KONIG Agriculture Ltd.
With the development, the commissioner, who called on investors to invest in the city, expressed the government’s readiness to provide support and an enabling environment for agriculture to thrive, in a bid to ensure that their funds were not wasted.
He said, “The initiative is expected to boost agricultural development and economic growth in the state. Governor Aiyedatiwa will continue to welcome and partner with any reliable investor in the agricultural sector.
“With this development, unemployment and insecurity in the area would be dramatically reduced because the company would employ people from the host communities.”
Commending the governor for approving the project to commence, the commissioner said the present administration was prioritising the agricultural sector to achieve sufficient food production and security. He explained that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry would stand as guarantor for families and owners of the land, as requested by the company.
“The Northern Senatorial District of the state will witness an unprecedented agricultural revolution through aggressive development,” noting that the “moribund Akunnu cattle ranch built by the old Western Region would be revived and put to use, as investors have arrived and everything is set to resuscitate the ranch,” Akinola stated.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mrs Foluke Tunde-Daramola, who also signed as a witness on behalf of the state, appealed to the host community leaders to encourage their youths and women to be ready to work, assuring that the project would provide employment and eliminate joblessness.
Speaking, the project lead of KONIG Agriculture Ltd, Mr Oluwasegun Saliu, lauded the state government for attracting the project and for its unwavering commitment to seeing it realised.
He said, “Over 60 per cent of the workforce would be sourced from the community, and the company would add value through corporate social responsibilities such as boreholes, solar power, and a health facility on the farm, with services extended to the public.”
Mrs Justina Arogundade, representing the FRILIA initiative, explained that the initiative promotes sustainable and responsible large-scale agricultural investment.
“The framework seeks a ‘win-win’ outcome through community consultation, environmental and social sustainability, and fair compensation, ensuring that investments benefit both private investors and local communities.”
