Group empowers 200 Ondo indigenes with N5m on local food production

By Aderemi Bamgbose

 

Lead Culture Plus in collaboration with Ikale TV Diary have empowered over 200 farmers and food vendors in Okitpupa Local Government Area of Ondo with N5 million to boost local food production.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was also to protect the cultural food heritage of Ikale communities ranging from yam, plantain, cassava, flours and other local food items.

Mr Bolade Akinseloyin, Convener of the group, while presenting the money, at Stallamaris College, Okitipupa, on Wednesday said the project was to boost food production amid food crisis.

He said the project would also to encourage Ikale indigenes to consume local food items to preserve cultural heritage of the community.

The farmers and food vendors who received cash ranging from N20,000, N30,000 and N50,000 were encouraged to boost food production and prepare local foods to ease food crisis in the community and the state at large.

Akinseloyin added that the maiden programme would be sustained to encourage more indigent farmers and food vendors’ to plant and prepare local foods. 

According to him, the project is for agriculture purposes, to boost food production especially traditional foods like plantain, yam, cassava and flours amid food crisis and to also preserve our cultural heritage. 

“The programme which will be sustained is also to encourage food vendors to prepare local foods in order to discourage indigenes from relying on inter-continental foods,” he said.

 Mr Babatinde Agbede, a farmer and a beneficiary told NAN that he was happy to be part of the programme saying the money he received will be put to judicious use to preserve their cultural heritage.

 Mrs Florence Akintan, a food vendor and a beneficiary also said she would prioritise the cooking of local foods to encourage the consumption of their local food which was far better than other foods.

NAN reports that traditional rulers: Oba Michael Adetoye-Obatuga, Jegun of Idepe-Okitipupa Kingdom, Oba Oladele Fredrick-Akinmoye, Oyegberuwa of Erinje kingdom, other traditional rulers, high chiefs, indigenes among others graced the occasion. (NAN)