Investment in economic crops will improve Ekiti’s GDP – Gov Oyebanji

The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has encouraged Local Governments to make huge investments in the growth of economic crops to ramp up the state’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, to improve the standards of living of the populace.

Oyebanji gave the charge in Ikere Ekiti, on Thursday, in Ikere West Local Council Development Area of the state.

Oyebanji, represented by the Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, opined that investment in the production of economic trees, like cocoa, oil palm trees, coffees and pawpaw, will radically improve the income earnings of the farmers and turn the state into a reliable agriculture hub.

Oyebanji appealed that youths be the principal target of the economic trees planting policy to propel development.

“Agriculture and rural development forms a whole pillar in the cardinal objective and policy thrust of Governor Oyebanji’s administration and what this LCDA is doing will go a long way in elevating the set standards and focus to help expand the frontiers of plantation agriculture.

” Governor Oyebanji has demonstrated an avowed stand to develop plantation agriculture, with a special focus on the growth of economic trees, by regular distribution of seedlings to farmers.

“It should be noted that huge investment in commercial trees like oil Palm trees, cocoa and pawpaw can make Ekiti a reliable agriculture hub in the southwest.

“I have the conviction that this policy will be of tremendous benefit to the people by way of income earnings to farmers and production of economic trees that can enrich the ecosystem, boost the internally generated revenue and contribute substantially to the state’s GDP”.