Commissioner for Agriculture, Akwa Ibom State.
Kufre Etuk – Uyo
The Akwa Ibom state government says it has outlined plans to engage supervisors for agriculture and local government agric officers in a bid to promote commercial and sustainable farming to all rural communities of the state.
Recall that the state government introduced a third farming session as part of a broad-based plan to have an-all-year round availability of staple food.
This plan is part of the follow up on the recent training of Agribusiness operators under Agribusiness Enterprise Development Programme, AEDP, sponsored by the Akwa Ibom State government in collaboration with Elkanis and Partners.
This, the commissioner for Agriculture Dr. Glory Edet, explained would encourage farmers to go into commercial farming.
Addressing the first batch of AEDP graduates in her office, the commissioner noted that “ after the swearing-in of local government chairmen and appointment of supervisors, we will invite supervisors for agriculture for training whether they are agric-based or not, from there we will penetrate all the wards.”
RELATED STORIES : Multi-billion Naira scandal: Akwa Ibom govt’s new financial report opens more loopholes
‘Ibom deep seaport has received certificate of no objection from BPP’
“They must develop farm in all the wards and local government areas.”
“Any moment from now we want to ensure government agric lands all over the state are well utiIilsed to ensure food sufficiency. Trainees from this program will be hired to work on those farms which will create jobs and upscale food productivity ”
Dr. Edet thanked Governor Emmanuel for making agriculture take its rightful place in the state.
The Commissioner said the success of agriculture in the state is only made possible by Governor Emmanuel whom she said understands that agriculture is the only means of reducing poverty.
She hailed the trainees that passed out from the scheme for showing commitment during the training and promised to engage them under the state government’s one million onion stands cultivation plan.
The Commissioner revealed that the essence of engaging the graduated trainees is to impact them with more knowledge in order to enable them begin onions farming.
Advertisement.
Meanwhile, report of the week-long training presented to the Commissioner for Agriculture by the Programme Director, AEDP, Mr Ekanikpong Ben, indicated that the programme focuses primarily on key value chains in the agricultural sector including vegetables, crop and livestock production.
Ben averred that Ministry of Agriculture/AEDP training programme will strengthen business linkages among producers, processors and aggregators; reinforce existing business network and increase their competitiveness through improved access to knowledge, technology, land and seedlings.
“For sustainable economic growth in Akwa Ibom, Agribusiness operators need the capacity to produce, process and sell high quality goods to meet the market demand.”
The report shows that participants were trained on GIS, drone & tech application in Agriculture; crop oroduction & management; livestock oroduction & management; agro products processing/ packaging; and agribusiness financing, market access and business development.
At the meeting, participants were given opportunity to ask questions with answers provided to them on the spot.
Present at the occasion were all directors in the ministry,the management and staff of Elkanis and Partners.
