Priscilla Akpanettot, COOPA
The Government of Akwa Ibom State under Pastor Umo Eno is planning to spur the interest of young people in agriculture by providing them financial access and land for start-ups.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Offiong Offor said this on Monday, April 14 2024 at the ARISE Scorecard event hosted in Uyo by the State Ministry of Information. She called on interested Akwa Ibom youth to form a team of like-minded farmers and approach Room 99 of the State Ministry of Agriculture, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat where they can be merged as a Corporative group and given lands for cultivation and or funds for start-up.
Dr Offiong explained that the Governor was leaving no stone unturned in his bid to make agriculture the mainstay of the economy and thus, eradicate poverty and hunger from the land, in line with Goals 1 and 2 of the United Nations proposition on Sustainable Development.
Dr. Offor who recounted the various interventions of the State Governor to livestock and crop farmers since the inception of his administration was hopeful that subsequent harvests would be bountiful and food items, less expensive for the Akwa Ibom populace.
“The government had asked Local Government Chairpersons to gift lands to the government for farming, to increase production and 7 of them have done that so far. The lands will be given back to the people to cultivate, with the farm inputs provided by the government. With this, we can be sure of food availability and sufficiency”, she said, adding that there’ll be designated sales points for the purchase of the food items cultivated by assisted farmers when it is time.
Dr Offiong while responding to questions on the Government’s action towards the destruction of farmlands by cattle and herders frowned at the development and announced that such defaulters will be prosecuted.
Her position was corroborated by the Commissioner for Information and host of the discuss, Comrade Ini Ememobong who informed that the State Government had held consultations with the Arewa Community in the State and was consolidating on an agreement reached to take legal action on defaulters of the Law on Open Grazing.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong said the platform was created to put members of the State in the know of the extent and why Governor Eno was intervening in food sufficiency and security.
The discussion also had the Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr Emem Bob Almond speak on key issues regarding the economic development of the State.
