By Fatima Muraina

The Ondo State Government has refuted the insinuation that there is food scarcity in the state, attributing the situation to rather high cost of production.

The State Project Coordinator, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), Prince Ademola Olawale, made the declaration in an interview with The Hope in Akure.

His words: “There is no food scarcity in Ondo State. What we are experiencing is high cost of production. We are trying to explore simple ways to reduce cost of production.”

He explained that the IFAD LIFE-ND has worked to develop and prepare land for the youth free of charge and has provided necessary inputs such as cotton and seeds, also at no cost.

“This is the impact of the project on food production and efforts to ensure the cost of production is reduced to avoid food scarcity in Ondo State.”

According to him, the state has enlisted 4,560 beneficiaries, of whom about 3,500 have been empowered in the first phase of the programme.

He added that the programme will soon continue with its second phase, noting that the state is working in 100 communities, with visible impact in terms of harvesting.

“We have been able to produce food for the populace, and it will continue so that there will be more impact on the people,” he said.

He also appealed to the people to embrace backyard farming, even if it means using empty buckets or cement bags filled with soil to plant and make food readily available at the doorsteps of citizens.