Honourable Ojuawo Adeniyi Rufus, Member representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1, Hon. Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo (AVM Rtd), has hosted a follow-up visit from Chinese investors, Mr. David Zhao and Ms. Yvette Wei, Managers from CCECC Nigeria Limited, at his empowerment farm.
The investors sent their team members, Messrs Joseph and Alexander, to assess the farm’s potential for collaboration. During their previous meeting at Hon Ojuawo’s National Assembly office, they discussed areas of potential partnership and agreed to inspect the farm before the rainy season.
Hon Ojuawo allowed the visitors a tour of the farm, and they able highlight the crucial role of irrigation in farming, especially during the dry season. He proudly displayed the new pumping machine, long hose, and pipes he had acquired to work in tandem with the solar-powered borehole, which draws water from the Ogbese river, allowing for year-round planting. This setup enables the farm to maintain a consistent water supply, regardless of the weather conditions, and is a key factor in the farm’s ability to produce crops throughout the year .
The farm is targeting 25 hectares of plantation this year, building on the success of their tomato pilot programme last year. Mr. Joseph expressed his company’s readiness to partner with Hon Ojuawo, investing in farm assets, cultivation, and equipment for processing farm produce. He praised Hon Ojuawo’s efforts, noting that there is enough land to work with, and that they are ready to move the project forward.
The team also visited the palm tree and cocoa plantation areas in Ise Ekiti, where Mr. Joseph highlighted the multiple layers of economic empowerment in agriculture, including both crop and livestock farming. The interest shown by foreign investors in Hon Ojuawo’s empowerment farm is a great indicator of the potential for foreign investment in Ekiti’s agricultural sector, which aligns perfectly with Governor Oyebanji’s administration’s agricultural drive.
By partnering the right stakeholders and providing the necessary support, farms like Hon Ojuawo’s own can play a significant role in boosting Ekiti’s economic growth and ensuring food security.