The Ikole Local Government Council in Ekiti state says it has concluded plans to cultivate about 20,000 hectares of maize and cassava during the forthcoming farming season.
The council’s Vice-Chairman, Alhaji Azeez Olasoji, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikole-Ekiti on Monday.
He identified agriculture as a viable alternative for generating revenue to run government.
The move, the vice-chairman said, was part of the plans to raise revenue aside the money from the Federation Account.
Olasoji said all efforts to revamp agriculture in the area would be pursued aggressively, noting that the local government was made up of largely agrarian communities.
``Our land is conducive for all kinds of agricultural purposes such as farming, poultry keeping, fish farming, rearing of animals and bee keeping among others.
``What we need to do is to encourage our farmers, motivate our youths to embrace agriculture and lead by example to convince them through involvement in farming.
"People must know that we are not paying lip service to the agriculture sector, "he stated.
Olasoji also said the council would nurse palm seedlings for sale to interested farmers.
``We all know that development could only thrive on availability of financial resources; that is the reason we would buckle up in ensuring that taxes, rates and other revenues are paid.
"We have to change the orientation of our people to payment of tax, and the same thing goes for organisations within the council area, "he said.
He charged revenue officers to do their job with all seriousness with a view to putting the new administration on the right footing financially.
Olasoji assured the council workers of adequate welfare, saying that the management would make meaningful impact on their lives.
"This administration will give priority to your welfare, all we are appealing for is your commitment, dedication and loyalty,’’ he said.
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