Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
In order to boost agricultural products and enhanced food sufficiency in the state, the Edo State Government has begun the distribution of farm inputs and processing equipment to smallholder farmers across the seven local government areas in Edo South Senatorial District for the 2024 planting season.
The distribution was carried out through the State FADAMA CARES Programme and Federal Government Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises, Niger Delta (LIFE – ND) project.
Flagging off the distribution exercise, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Stephen Idehenre who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Peter Osagie said the gesture was part of efforts to boost food production and ensure a successful 2024 farming season in the state.
The Commissioner noted that a similar exercise had been done in Edo Central Senatorial District.
He said, “Today, as a follow-up, a total number of 1,734 beneficiaries will be receiving inputs such as juvenile catfish, day-old- chicks and poultry feeds.
“Others are fish feeds agricultural assets, defeathering machines, cassava milling machines, rice processing machines, motorised sprayers and grinding machines, among others.”
The State Project Coordinator, IFAD LIFE-ND, John Omoruyi, said the input distribution would enhance farm productivity for improved food security and to meet the Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) Agenda of the state government.
Omoruyi noted that IFAD’s LIFE-ND project was currently running in 100 communities and in 10 local government areas of the State, adding, “We are upscaling every technology being used to be ecosystem friendly, hence the distribution of smart agricultural farming equipment and inputs to benefiting smallholder farmers.”
In his welcome address, the Programme Manager, Edo ADP and State Coordinator FADAMA CARES Programme, Dr. Edward Izevbigie, commended Governor Godwin Obaseki, for his commitment to agriculture which he said, had paved the way for the remarkable progress achieved in the sector.