The Federal Government has approved the establishment of a Food Processing Equipment and Machinery Development Institute (FOPEMDI) in Ekiti State, boosting the state’s agricultural sector.
In a letter to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Halilu, requested land for a permanent site and a temporary facility for the institute’s immediate take-off.
Reacting to the development, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, expressed joy, noting that Ekiti has recently benefited from several Federal Government interventions. He credited this to the state government’s commitment to growth and innovation.
Boluwade thanked President Bola Tinubu, stating that the institute’s approval underscores the President’s dedication to Ekiti’s development and agricultural progress.
Recently, Ekiti was named the pilot state for agriculture in the South West. The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) also launched an Agricultural Skills Programme in the state, while the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security established the first South West soil assessment laboratory in Ekiti, easing farmers’ access to soil testing services.
