Ekiti State is set to widen the reach of its flagship affordable food programme, Ounje Ekiti, as the government moves to open more outlets and bring subsidised staples closer to households across the state.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, said the expansion drive is central to the state’s strategy to tackle food insecurity, reduce post-harvest losses and stabilise household budgets amid rising prices.
He explained that the scheme is built on a simple model: buy directly from local farmers, including youths supported under state-backed agricultural programmes, and sell to residents at significantly reduced prices.
“The food items are sourced from farmers within the state,” Boluwade said, adding that Ounje Ekiti not only eases pressure on consumers but also guarantees a ready market for producers who often struggle with gluts and poor pricing.
Through the initiative, residents can purchase staples such as rice, maize, beans and garri at rates well below prevailing market prices. Existing centres at Shasha BAO, Agric Olope and the Fountain Agricultural Marketing Agency outlet at the Old Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti have been drawing large crowds.
Beneficiaries at these locations describe the programme as a lifeline, saying cheaper staples have helped them stretch limited incomes and cope with the escalating cost of living. Many, however, are urging the government to move beyond the state capital and establish outlets in more communities so that rural and peri-urban households can benefit.
There are also calls for the inclusion of additional food items to reflect changing dietary needs and to further cushion families against market volatility.
Boluwade said the government is already working on these demands, stressing that the programme is being refined to strengthen storage, aggregation and distribution so that supplies remain steady and fairly priced.
Executive Secretary of the Fountain Agricultural Marketing Agency, Adedayo Alofe, said steady patronage at the centres shows that the objective of making food available and affordable is being realised. He encouraged more residents to take advantage of the scheme as new outlets come on stream.
Director of Marketing Operations at the agency, Olubusola Adegboye, added that measures are in place to discourage hoarding and ensure that the subsidised items reach genuine households rather than speculative middlemen.
Officials say Ounje Ekiti has become a key pillar of the state’s broader food security agenda, linking farmers directly to consumers while cushioning residents from the worst effects of soaring food prices.
