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The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the establishment of a Food Processing Equipment and Machinery Development Institute (FOPEMDI) in Ekiti State.
This development is expected to boost employment and increase state revenue through value-added agricultural products.
The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Halilu, confirmed the approval in a letter to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, requesting basic facilities including land for a permanent site and a temporary site for the institute’s immediate take-off.
Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, expressed delight in the development, noting that the state has received several interventions from the federal government in recent weeks towards agricultural development. These interventions include:
Agricultural Development: Ekiti State was nominated as the pilot state for agriculture in the South West.
Agricultural Skills Programme: The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) selected Ekiti State for this program.
Soil Assessment Laboratory: The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security recently established the first soil assessment laboratory equipment in the South West, located in Ekiti State.
The newly approved institute is expected to address challenges in the agricultural sector and unlock the state’s immense potential in the industry.
Furthermore, It will produce modern agricultural processing equipment, enabling farmers to process and package food products for the market.
