FG empowers 257 small-scale farmers in Akwa Ibom

The Federal Government, under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, has distributed farm inputs to 257 small-scale farmers to boost food production and ensure food security in the country.

Dr Uyobong Uko, Akwa Ibom Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said this in his remarks during the training and distribution of inputs to small-scale farmers in Uyo on Wednesday.

Uko said that the beneficiaries were selected from the 31 local government areas of the state.

“Under the Federal Government poverty reduction programme of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, we are targeting to empower 257 small-scale farmers.

“Fish farmers, crop farmers, and poultry farmers will receive day-old chicks, bags of poultry feed, and bags of fish feed.

“They will receive sprayers, herbicides, liquid fertilisers, okra, maize, tomato, and pepper seedlings, all in a bit to support agriculture, help them to feed themselves, feed the nation, and make the country food secure and sufficient,” Uko said.

Uko urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the inputs and not sell any of them.

The director tasked the small-scale farmers with starting small and building on what they had already started to better themselves and their country.

He said that agriculture is the end thing now, advising the beneficiaries to take farming very seriously.

In her remarks, Mrs Imelda Akpan, Agric Officer, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said the mission of the programme is to reduce poverty by empowering smallholder farmers to improve their overall well-being.

Akpan warned beneficiaries of the programme against selling the inputs but to make good use of them to better their lives.

She said the programme reflects the government’s dedication to addressing poverty at its roots.

Speaking to one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Abasimfon Ikpe, from Ini LGA, who is into crop farming, said the inputs would go a long way towards improving her farming.

Ikpe thanked the federal government for the programme and urged the programme to be continuous.

Another beneficiary, Mr Imo Ekong, who is into fish farming, said the fish feed given to him would be useful to improve his fish farming business.