The Ekiti State Government has disclosed plans to expand Ounje Ekiti, its affordable food programme, by opening more outlets across the state so more residents can buy food at reduced prices.
The initiative, designed to ease the burden of rising food costs on households, also supports local farmers by providing a ready market for their produce.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, said the government was already taking steps to increase the number of sales centres to improve access to the programme.
According to him, the decision followed requests from beneficiaries who appealed to the government to create additional outlets to enable more residents benefit from the initiative.
“Government is already working to expand the outlets across the state to improve accessibility,” Boluwade said.
He explained that Ounje Ekiti was introduced as part of the state government’s response to food insecurity and post-harvest losses while ensuring that residents could access staple foods at affordable prices.
Under the programme, residents are able to purchase essential food items such as rice, maize, beans and garri at significantly reduced prices.
Boluwade also noted that the food items sold through the initiative are sourced directly from farmers within Ekiti State, including young people participating in various agricultural programmes.
“The food items are sourced from farmers within the state, including youths engaged in agricultural programmes. The initiative is also providing a ready market for their produce,” he said.
The commissioner added that the programme also focuses on strengthening food storage, aggregation and distribution systems within the state.
“The programme focuses on improving food storage, aggregation and distribution while ensuring that residents have access to affordable food items,” he stated.
Currently, residents have been purchasing food through outlets located at Shasha BAO, Agric Olope and the Fountain Agricultural Marketing Agency at the Old Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti.
Many residents have continued to visit the centres in large numbers to buy food items sold at subsidised prices.
Beneficiaries of the programme have praised Governor Biodun Oyebanji for introducing the initiative, describing it as timely in the face of increasing food prices.
Several buyers said the programme had helped ease financial pressure on families and enabled households to better cope with the rising cost of staple foods.
However, they appealed to the state government to increase the number of sales outlets so that more communities across the state can access the programme.
Some beneficiaries also called for additional food items to be included in the scheme.
The Executive Secretary of the Fountain Agricultural Marketing Agency, Adedayo Alofe, said the objective of making food available and affordable for residents was gradually being achieved.
“The objective of making food available and affordable for residents was gradually being realised through steady patronage at the centres,” Alofe said.
He encouraged more residents to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the initiative.
Also speaking, the agency’s Director of Marketing Operations, Olubusola Adegboye, said measures were being introduced to discourage hoarding and ensure fair distribution of the food items.
Officials said Ounje Ekiti forms part of the state government’s broader efforts to promote food security, support farmers and cushion the effects of rising food prices on residents.
