Food Crisis: FG, Foreign Partners Target 150,000 Poor Farmers in N’Delta

To resolve the food crisis in the country and empower poor farmers in the Niger Delta, the federal government, in collaboration with the Department for International Development (DFID) plan to empower 150,000 farmers in the nine states of the region in the next two years.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and officials of the United Kingdom (UK) sponsored programme said in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Tuesday that the intervention which is being carried out through the Market Development in Niger Delta (MADE) platform would provide the farmers with training and modern agric equipment.

The representative of the Minister, Mrs. Inieye Bakaderemo, noted that the federal government was committed to empowering the people of the Niger Delta whom she boasted had the capacity to feed the entire nation. Specifically, the federal government , which in collaboration with the partners presented some Smoke Kilns, a more efficient way of drying and preserving fish, to the farmers, said the Technology Adoption Grant, (TAG) would in particular, focus on the palm oil and fisheries value chain.

“The reason we are partnering is because of our interest in promoting an inclusive and sustainable economic development in the Niger delta. The responsibility of government is to create the enabling environment so that businesses can thrive.

“The Niger Delta has a huge potential in agric production, including aquaculture and palm oil. Bayelsa has the capacity to provide food for the entire Nigeria. The smoking kiln not only makes it easier to preserve fish, but also makes the environment more decent. Our objective is to ensure massive employment, increase wealth of farmers and develop our rural communities.

“We are also aligning with the curricula in our institutions. We are providing modern agric technology. The ministry is determined to provide agric mechanisation at minimal cost. We are tired of talking, it’s time for action. We need to be productive”, the Minister’s rep said.