FG EMPOWERS 90 SMALL SCALE FARMERS FARM IN EBONYI

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has empowered ninety indigent farmers with inputs and equipment under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy in Ebonyi State.

At the event in Abakaliki, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Temitope Fashedemi, explained that the programme was aimed at reducing the poverty level in the country.

The beneficiaries, who were poultry and crop farmers, were selected from the three Senatorial zones of Ebonyi State.

While the poultry farmers were 30 and provided with 25 day old chicks per person, feed and money, the crop farmers were registered in three clusters and were given power tillers, knapsack sprayers, liquid fertilizers and herbicides.

The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Fashedemi represented by a Principal Agric Officer, Mrs. Amaka Uyanwa, pointed out that the beneficiaries, who were the second batch of farmers to be empowered under the programme would be trained and provided with Extension Services.

The Coordinator Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Ebonyi State, Dr. William Obazi, explained that his office partnered the Agriculture Development Programme Office in the State to ensure that genuine farmers were selected.

Acting Programme Manager, Ebonyi State ADP, Mr. Gabriel Odo, noted that the farmers would be properly supervised and commended the Federal Government for its interventions in the agricultural sector in the state.

Two of the beneficiaries, Mr. Paul Nwiboko and Miss Chinyere Okereke, described the empowerment as timely considering that farming activities had just commenced in the state.

They called on the Federal Government to initiate action towards encouraging farmers to go into dry season farming in the state.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU