Edo State Government has partnered with GIZ –SEDIN through its Pro-Poor Growth and Promotion of Employment to unveil a Local Economic Development (LED) Fora process.
This is in a bid to rejuvenate the economic competitiveness of Local Government Areas within Edo State, beginning with three pilot LGAs namely Oredo, Esan Central and Etsako West while focusing on the Agricultural Sector,
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Peter Aikhuomobhogbe disclosed this during the interactive session tagged “LED-GETLOCAL” which was held at the Ministry of Local Government Community and Chieftaincy Affairs in Benin City.
He emphasized the need for Food to be cultured as cultured food is a new type of food that’s likely to become a way in which we combat environmental concerns surrounding feeding the growing population.
He said that in creating awareness, Edo State is partnering with Green Hills, adding that there is the need to not just focus on Cassava but on short gestation crops which takes about 3 months to grow, sighting examples like water melon, cucumber which are now grown in Edo State because of its weather.
The Head of Local Government Area (HOLGA), Oredo Local Government Area, Mr. Kessington Osifo, who spoke on harnessing the Sesame Seeds, as the GIZ statistics shows over 50percent increase in Exports, said a soil test needs to be done to ascertain if the seeds can easily be grown anywhere in Edo State aside a specific area.
The MD/CEO, Zion Agro-Allied Services LTD, Edo North, Mr. Oni Peters Imonikhe said the Government has a pivotal role to play especially in research and improvement of seedling, as farmers continually need support. Speaking on the security issues, he noted that it was challenging but however, Locals still need to be driven and encouraged with knowledge and processes. He added that 10 percent of persons would make a difference in agriculture in Edo State.
Earlier, the Local Economic and Value Chain Development Advisor GIZ-SEDAN Programme, Edo State, Mr. Nosakhare Aigiomawu in his brief noted that with the Agricultural Economy- Changing production, Edo State has an enormous agro-products potentials that could be tapped into for exports.
He explained that the LED approach towards Economic Development allows and encourages Local people to work together to achieve sustainable economic growth and development, thereby bringing economic benefits and improved quality of life for all residents of the area.
On the way forward and becoming competitive, he noted that the LED process is aimed at identifying products or services that have more advantage than others in creating wealth, generating jobs and increase Export of Goods in the pilot LGAs.
He disclosed that GIZ-SEDAN is not looking at getting everybody back to farming but to get a percentage, as Local economy still has activities and its potentials could be maximized for Exports.
In attendance were the Permanent Secretary and Heads of Department of the Ministry of Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs; Heads of the three pilot LGAs; representative of the Ministry of Business Trades and Cooperatives, amongst others.
