Federal Government promise to share fertilizer and other agro-chemical to farmers of A’Ibom state
The Honorable Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Offiong Offor has stated that, different categories of farmers in the state will receive fertilizer and other agro-chemicals, this second planting season to further improve food production.
Offor, who gave the hint recently at the Ministry’s Headquarter, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat Complex, Uyo, while addressing some rice farmers, said the Arise Agenda encourages all to go back to farm, hence, Governor Umo Eno is committed to support farmers in different value chains to ensure food sufficiency.
“we will share fertilizers and other inputs not only to rice farmers but to all farmers in the state, at the flag-off of the second planting season, which will come up soon. The Ministry has a good relationship with rice farmers, there is not farming season that they do not benefit from the State Government Empowerment Programs. Last year, the rice farmers made an output of 5 tons per hectare, as a result of our support and we are happy the crop did well,” she declared.
The Commissioner however frown at some of the attitude of the rice farmers led by one Mr Emmanuel Usua to the ministry saying that “there are better ways of channeling complains to an organization. If you had sent a correspondence to the ministry, it is proper to wait for our response rather than bring out these great men and women to the office, to do what is not necessary.
“if you had any complaint and notified the ministry, you were supposed to have waited for the issues raised to be addressed. This visit would have been appropriate, id you got SMS for fertilizer distribution. I don’t understand why they have put you through this stress of waiting outside,” the commissioner stressed.
The Don noted that Mr Usua didn’t take the right approach, because there is no activity in the ministry in which rice farmers are not accommodated, therefore they should exercise patience to benefit in farm inputs distribution to farmers billed for flag-off of the second Planting Season.
Offor instructed the Director of Agriculture, Mr Solomon Joe to take down data of attendees, for verification to be added to those other rice farmers not present at the visit for inclusion in the empowerment programme.
The Commissioner advised farmers to always reach out to the ministry through the extension agents with their complaints which will be appropriately addressed. In her remarks, the Permanent secretary, Ministry of agriculture & Rural Development, Mrs Mary Ukoette Bassey confirmed the letter was received on Monday, 9th Sepetmber, 2024 and added that the rice farmers were supposed to have waited for the response from the ministry.
Speaking earlier, the rice farmer from Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, Mr Emmanuel Usua who led the team, said he forwarded a letter on behalf of others to the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development requesting for consideration in the distribution of fertilizer and other farm inputs.
“If the farmers are empowered with fertilizers and other inputs, rice production will increase. We are committed to supported government food sufficiency drive,” Usua maintained.
He apologized to the Commissioner for not waiting to get a response from the ministry, saying the action was taken considering the importance of rice production.
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