Under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, the Federal Government has taken proactive steps to enhance food production and ensure food security by distributing farm inputs to 257 small-scale farmers.
Dr. Uyobong Uko, the Akwa Ibom Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, highlighted the initiative’s significance during the training and distribution event held in Uyo. Beneficiaries were carefully selected from all 31 local government areas of the state.
The distributed inputs cater to various agricultural sectors, including fish farming, crop farming, and poultry farming. Items provided include day-old chicks, poultry and fish feeds, sprayers, herbicides, liquid fertilizers, as well as okra, maize, tomato, and pepper seedlings.
Emphasizing the importance of utilizing the inputs effectively, Uko urged beneficiaries not to sell any of the provided materials but to leverage them to improve their livelihoods and contribute to national food security.
He encouraged small-scale farmers to start small and progressively build upon their existing ventures, stressing the pivotal role of agriculture in current times.
Mrs. Imelda Akpan, an Agric Officer from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, reiterated the program’s mission to alleviate poverty by empowering smallholder farmers and enhancing their overall well-being. She cautioned beneficiaries against selling the inputs and urged them to maximize their potential for personal and communal growth.
Expressing gratitude, beneficiaries like Mrs. Abasimfon Ikpe and Mr. Imo Ekong shared their optimism about the impact of the inputs on their respective farming endeavors, underscoring the importance of continuous support from the government in driving agricultural development.
