By Fatima Muraina
The Ondo State Government has expressed its intention to scale up its fish farming project with the commencement of ‘Eja Irorun’ in June.
The Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, who is also the Chairman of the Ondo State Agricultural Empowerment and Support Programme (OSAEC), Mr Wemimo Akinsola, disclosed this at the cheque presentation ceremony for Isuada 2nd phase ‘Ediye Irorun’ participants in Akure, Ondo State.
He said the state has made available 100 fish ponds and has 90 trainees undergoing preparation for the commencement of the project.
“In the next one month, we are going to roll out Eja Irorun. We already have about 100 ponds and we are training 90 people to go into fish farming,” he said.
He stated that the state government is expanding its livestock and aquaculture initiatives as part of efforts to boost local food production and create sustainable agribusiness opportunities.
Speaking in an interview shortly after the cheque presentation, Akinsola revealed that the state currently has about 37,000 birds across various poultry pens, in addition to ongoing programmes involving layers. He noted that this marks the second phase of the state’s poultry expansion drive.
According to him, the government is also intensifying efforts to develop local hatchery capacity, following the renovation of facilities in Epe. He explained that the central facility has been fully upgraded and will soon serve as a hatchery hub to eliminate reliance on external sources for chicks.
“We have just completed the renovation of Epe, and the central facility is fully ready. That is where we are going to have our hatchery so we do not have to keep buying chicks from outside the state,” he said.
Akinsola added that the state has introduced a rotational production model, allowing farmers to access up to 50,000 birds every 21 days, enabling participation even from those outside the core programme.
He emphasised that the initiative is focused on adults who voluntarily choose to participate, noting that the programme is designed to equip beneficiaries with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in agribusiness.
“The idea is simple and you cannot force people. We give them the tools they need to be productive. The goal is to increase poultry production so that local demand, especially from fast-food businesses, can be met within the state.
“We also want to reduce prices and improve access to affordable protein such as chicken and fish,” he explained.
He further highlighted the discipline required in the six-week training programme, describing it as a structured process aimed at building capacity, endurance and business understanding among participants.
“It is not easy to spend six weeks managing poultry pens. It requires discipline. What we are doing is building life skills, capacity and structure around agribusiness. Not everyone will remain in poultry farming, but those who complete the programme and pass through the system properly will have a solid foundation,” he said.
Akinsola also noted that the programme currently operates across three centres, with another facility undergoing private-sector-led renovation that will accommodate an additional 100 participants.
He stressed that while the government is committed to scaling up the initiative, available space remains a key limiting factor.
“We can run this programme all year round, but space is very important. If we identify private poultry facilities that meet standards, we also bring them into the system,” he said.
Looking ahead, he said the programme is currently operating on a one-year cycle, now in its fourth month, with two production cycles already completed.
He expressed optimism that continued success could lead to expansion, subject to government approval.
“If His Excellency is satisfied with the results, the programme can be expanded further.
But for now, we are working within a one-year framework and building on what we have achieved so far,” he added.