In readiness for the successful take-off of the Fountain Dairy Farm, Ikun-Ekiti, Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State, equipment worth over N80 million bought by the State Government has arrived the country while 700 cows are expected to arrive by the end of this month.

According to the Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor, Engr.Segun Oni on Public Communications and Head of the State Public Communications Bureau (PCB), Mr. Moses Jolayemi, the equipment, which include tractors, milking machines, silage cutters, feed mixers, tippers, heavy duty vehicles spare parts among others arrived the country last week and will be brought to Ikun-Ekiti this week. Jolayemi who disclosed that the Dairy company, which was established 28 years ago and had been abandoned by successive governments both in the old Ondo State and since Ekiti State was created would commence full operation on February 15, 2009.

Speaking during an inspection of the company site on Friday last week,Governor Oni disclosed that 700 pregnant cows are being expected from South Africa, adding that the cattle would start arriving from 24th of this month. 

"We are expecting the cattle to start arriving before the end of this month and that should be the last of the set of things to come. All the other equipment are already in the country, by this time next week, they would have been here. By the first week of Match next year, we will be here to do the commissioning," Oni said.

On his vision for the company, the governor who disclosed that he visited the site during his electioneering campaign said; "This is thelargest in the country and my vision is that it should larger. It should be able to produce for the whole of West Africa if possible.

He disclosed further that 90 goats and 90 rams are being expected, saying that the intention of the government is to make Ikun the centre for Ileya ram by supplying at least 20 percent of Ileya rams in Nigeria. While applauding the people of Ikun-Ekiti for keeping the equipment intact for over 28 years, Governor Oni said; "I want to thank Kabiyesi the Onikun and the entire Ikun people. Let me tell you why I am so much committed to this project.

"Before we started campaign we had to conduct research because there were some issues we wanted to verify so that we won't make promises that we will not fulfill. Part of the research was that we had to find out what is on ground here. So, we decided to come here and when I got here I met two security men and the whole of the compound was well kept. I just looked around and I was very impressed. I was impressed that nothing had been vandalized, nothing had been taken away and there and then, I made up my mind that a people who has such a hope to keep this place like this for 28 years, that hope must be realized and what is happening here is the realization of that hope.

"If you see a people who were able to do this, not allowing people to vandalize it, not allowing bush to take it over, it shows that these people are progressive minded, development oriented and what any good government should do is to support them. That's why we made up our mind that if this project is going to cost us N1 billion, N2 billion, N3 billion, we will do it."

Also speaking on the capacity of the farm, the Project Manager, Mr.Christian Green disclosed that each of the cows being expected is weighed 450 kilogrammes and would produce 20 litres of milk per day.He said further that the farm has capacity for 3,000 cows.