By Bisola Adeyemo
Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has raised the alarm that the state might suffer food shortage as a result of the fire outbreak which ravaged food and cash crops across the 16 local government areas of the state.
The Chairman of the agency, Capt Sunday Adebomi (rtd), said the recent fire incident in the state had affected about nine local governments rendering about 2400 farmers jobless, which he described as a bad omen for food production and supply.
Adebomi raised the fear on Monday while inspecting some cocoa, oil palm as well as food and cash crop plantations destroyed by inferno in Omuo and Omu, in Ekiti East and Oye Local Government Areas of the state respectively.
He lamented that food and cash crops estimated at five thousand hectares were destroyed during the fire disaster and has affected the development of agriculture in the state.
Adebomi noted that the development if not properly checked would lead to famine later in the year.
He, therefore, expressed optimism that the present administration in Ekiti State under the leadership of Dr. Kayode Fayemi would do everything to bring succor to the farmers.
“Let me give the assurance that the government would always do everything to guarantee the safety of lives and property of farmers in the state. So, don’t panic as the government has concluded plans to empower them.
“I admonish our farmers to see the fire incident as a major challenge for them to do more and embrace mechanized farming, as the government would do everything to empower them.
“See this fire disaster as a challenge for you to redouble your efforts and embrace planting of more food crops. This is the best move that would further tackle the imminent food shortage in respect of the fire disaster”.
Adebomi explained that arrangement has been concluded by the Ekiti State Government for a total reengineering of agriculture by involving key policymakers and youths to actively participate in the development of the agricultural sector.
Speaking on the destruction, a 75-year-old man and a retired civil servant in Ikota Omuo-Ekiti, who gave his name as Mr. Sunday Fajana, told the daily post that he lost about five hectares of cocoa and oil palm plantation to the inferno.
He explained that “the fire incident which started at about 9pm destroyed all that I have laboured for since I retired from the Ekiti civil service. I appeal to government and public-spirited individuals to assist me financially”.
The Owajumu of Omu-Ekiti, Oye local government, Oba Ogundeji Adeyeye, lamented the incident, which he said has affected about 50 farmers in his community.
The traditional ruler appealed to the government as well as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to come to the aides of the people of the community as the fire has destroyed all agricultural products in his community.