Ekiti Targets 5,000 Youths for Poultry, Agribusiness Development

News in brief:

-Ekiti launches initiative to train and engage 5,000 youths in poultry and agribusiness development.

-State targets expansion of poultry infrastructure with capacity for one million birds annually.

The Ekiti State Government has launched a strategic initiative aimed at engaging 5,000 youths in poultry production and agribusiness to strengthen food security, create employment, and expand the agricultural value chain.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, disclosed this during a five-day capacity development programme on Good Animal Husbandry Practices held in Ado-Ekiti.

Programme Focuses on Skills and Commercial Farming

Boluwade explained that the programme would equip participants with the technical expertise and agribusiness knowledge required for modern poultry production.

The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project and aims to increase youth participation in commercial poultry farming.

According to him, the programme aligns with the state’s broader plan to transform agriculture from subsistence-based activities into a market-driven enterprise.

Government Plans Major Poultry Infrastructure Expansion

The commissioner revealed that the state is also advancing plans to develop poultry infrastructure with a combined capacity of 300,000 birds under the L-PRES framework.

He said the facilities are expected to support the production of at least one million birds annually raised for table size.

Boluwade noted that the investment would improve supply stability, expand production capacity, and strengthen market linkages across the poultry value chain.

According to the commissioner, the state government is pursuing a full-spectrum agribusiness strategy covering production, processing, value addition, and commercialisation.

“Our priority is to institutionalise a full-spectrum agribusiness model that integrates production, processing and commercialisation while positioning youths as key drivers of agricultural transformation in the state,” he said.

Existing Poultry Scheme Records Growth

The Ekiti State Broilers Production Scheme, established in 2023, has already engaged about 500 youths and produced more than 250,000 table-sized birds across seven hubs. Officials also stated that the scheme has recorded profitability while expanding opportunities for young entrepreneurs in the poultry sector.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Babatope Ojo, represented by the Director of Administration and Supplies, Bunmi Oluwalana, described capacity development as critical to sustainable livestock growth.

The State Project Coordinator for L-PRES, Olayinka Adedipe, added that the programme forms part of broader efforts to strengthen livestock systems through infrastructure and human capital development.

Participants at the training described the initiative as timely, noting that the knowledge gained would help improve productivity and business expansion.

Ekiti State’s poultry and agribusiness initiative reflects growing efforts to position agriculture as a major driver of youth employment and economic growth.

If sustained, the programme could significantly strengthen poultry production, improve food supply, and expand commercial agriculture in the state.