The governor said this while addressing stakeholders during an interactive session on the Edo State Regional Development and Benin City Master Plan, held at Iguobazuwa, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of the State.
Obaseki reassured of government’s commitment to the safety and security of residents, and called for the collaboration and support of all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful, secure and prosperous Edo State.
He said, “Any herdsman in our bush without permission is working against the law of our State, and anything that happens, they can’t blame anyone.
“Let us be sure that nobody gives that person the permission to enter our forest and if permission will be granted, let us know the type of permission given to them to come into our bushes or forest to graze with their cattle.
“Open grazing is banned in Edo State. If they are in your forest, let us know where they are because we have police and vigilantes who will help us get them out through a number we will give you to call.”
The distribution was carried out through the State FADAMA CARES Programme and Federal Government Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises, Niger Delta (LIFE – ND) project.
Flagging off the distribution exercise, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Stephen Idehenre who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Peter Osagie said the gesture was part of efforts to boost food production and ensure a successful 2024 farming season in the State.
The Commissioner noted that a similar exercise had been done in Edo Central Senatorial District.
He said, “Today, as a follow-up, a total number of 1,734 beneficiaries will be receiving inputs such as juvenile catfish, day-old- chicks and poultry feeds.
“Others are fish feeds agricultural assets, defeathering machines, cassava milling machines, rice processing machines, motorised sprayers and grinding machines, among others.”
The State Project Coordinator, IFAD LIFE-ND, John Omoruyi, said the input distribution would enhance farm productivity for improved food security and to meet the Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) Agenda of the state government.
Omoruyi noted that IFAD’s LIFE-ND project was currently running in 100 communities and in 10 local government areas of the State, adding, “We are upscaling every technology being used to be ecosystem friendly, hence the distribution of smart agricultural farming equipment and inputs to benefiting smallholder farmers.”
In his welcome address, the Programme Manager, Edo ADP and State Coordinator FADAMA CARES Programme, Dr. Edward Izevbigie, commended Governor Godwin Obaseki, for his commitment to agriculture which he said, had paved the way for the remarkable progress achieved in the sector.