UDOM EMMANUEL GIVES LOANS TO MAIZE FARMERS
Governor Udom Emmanuel has given interest free loan to maize farmers in the state. The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Women Affairs, Dr. Glory Edet disclosed during her meeting with members of the Maize Growers, Producers and Marketers Association; Maize Association of Nigeria; All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN); and stakeholders in the Agro business sub-sector held at Women Development Centre, IBB Way, Uyo recently.
Dr, Edet who lauded the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel for encouraging Agricultural development in the state, said, the State Government’s interest free loan would only be given to maize farmers who have evidence of ownership of farmland and involvement in the cultivation of maize in the state, adding that the Ministry has set up inspection teams that would go round all Local Government Areas to ascertain farmers to benefit from the scheme.
The Commissioner used the occasion to charge all the chapter coordinators all All Farmers Association of Nigeria to prove themselves as leaders by ensuring the establishment of model farms in their respective Local Government Areas, based on the commodities of comparative advantage in their vicinity. She also stated that Government has instituted a reward mechanism to appreciate best performing coordinators and farmers in the state.
Speaking, the Permanent secretary, Dr. John Markson, mni, stated that government is poised to encouraging maize production to stimulate the establishment of agro feeds and other industries in the state.
The Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Agricultural Loan Board, Deaconess Elsie Esara urged farmers to key into the food sufficiency programme of Governor Udom Emmanuel, both for economic empowerment and better well-being of the citizenry.
The Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Prince Bassey Inwang who was also present appreciated Governor Udom Emmanuel’s passion for Agricultural development in the state and urged the farmers to reciprocate the gesture by being committed to the government programmes aimed at boosting agricultural activities in the state.
Besides, the Governor has embarked on door to door distribution of free farming inputs to farmers across the 31 LGAs of Akwa Ibom.
According to the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Women Affairs, Dr. Glory Edet, the exercise which is to afford all the farmers in the state the opportunity to have access to farm inputs this farming season despites the global lock down and stay at home order occasioned by the corona virus pandemic.
Dr Edet who briefed Journalists that a team for the distribution of the farm inputs to farmers are going round the state visiting farmers at their respective farms and some designated locations advised farmers to always endeavour to adhere to health and hygiene precautions including hand washing, social distancing, regular use of hand sanitizers to avoid the spread of the corona virus, said cassava farms are also being cleared and planting is ongoing, while hygiene precautions are maintained.
She noted that State Government is poised to see to it that despite the lockdown, farmers would continue to cultivate for the availability of food in the state expressing hope that the current trauma which COVID-19 has brought to all humans across the state will soon be over by God’s grace.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Women Affairs used the occasion to laud Governor Udom Emmanuel for intensifying fight against the deadly COVID-19 for also ensuring that measures are put in place to provide palliatives to sustain Akwa Ibom Citizen and prevent the spread of the pandemic in the state.
