BENIN CITY – The Chairman of Access to Arable Land Committee in Edo State, Mr Kelvin Uwaibi has disclosed plans by the state government to be the leader in food production in Nigeria.

Speaking to newsmen in Benin City on the sideline of a workshop for stakeholders on Access to Arable Land in Edo State, Uwaibi said that the state government was adopting a systematic approach that would accord due attention to access to arable land.

The workshop which was organised by the Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND), an NGO, has as its theme, “Value Proposition for Sustainable Arable Land in Edo State.”

According to Uwaibi, the stakeholders workshop was meant to come up with a road map that would guarantee seamless food production, both for local consumption and export.

Uwaibi who doubles as Chairman, Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO) said that the Edo State policy on agriculture adopted a holistic approach that was determined to ensure food sufficiency in the state.

He said that the state government was already enumerating both small holder farmers and large scale investors in order have a workable data base.

The Advocacy Manager of PIND, Mr Chuks Ofulue, speaking on behalf of the Executive Director, Mr Tunji Idowu said that the NGO is supporting the Arable Land Review Committee to interrogate the issue of inadequate access to arable land in Edo State.

According to him, “Working with the relevant government ministries, departments and agencies, in collaboration with the organised agriculture groups and local communities, PIND hopes to influence the establishment of a system to sustainably administer land for agriculture in the state.”

He disclosed that the state Arable Land Development Committee has since its inauguration developed propositions that would facilitate the implementation of practices and systems for arable land sustainability.

While calling on the state government to strengthen its land banking and geo-referencing system to support the committee’s initiative, he also sued for cooperation with communities and their leadership for the collective good of the people.