BY SAMUEL IGBAVBOA
The Edo State Government has been commended for its commitment to boosting all-season food production in the State with the launch of small irrigation equipment for dry season farming through EdoFADAMA CARES Result Area II project at the Rubber Estate Nigeria Limited, Ovia South-West Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.
Glory Orji, a beneficiary of the program who spoke on behalf of the others, assured that the machines will be put to judicious use and expressed gratitude to Governor Obaseki, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Edo FADAMA CARES and all the partners who made the initiative a reality.
The Acting Chairman, Ovia South-West LGA, Dr. Agbon Iseh, who was represented by Justice Otabor Esq. at the event, lauded the State Government for bringing the initiative to farmers in the LGA to boost farming during the dry season.
He urged the beneficiaries not to abuse the opportunity, but instead use the equipment effectively in order to attract more projects that will boost farm produce.
Corroborating the Acting Chairman’s position, the State Coordinator of Edo FADAMA CARES Result Area II, Dr. Edward Izemwingie, stressed that the State Government is committed to improving food production in the State through various programs by providing improved cocoa, maize, cashew seeds, granting access to land for oil palm production, fishery, rice clusters, amongst others.
Dr. Izemwingie urged the beneficiaries to complement the efforts of the State Government in making Edo a hunger-free State, and reiterated that the farming implements provided by the Government are not for sale.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Stephen Idehenre, lauded the Governor for prioritizing the development of the agricultural sector.
He said that as part of the Governor’s commitment in achieving higher agricultural produce, 72,500 hectares of land have been allocated to investors for different kinds of agricultural produce with capacity to create over 3,000 jobs in the State.
Idehenre emphasized that the State Government is fast-tracking agricultural initiatives that will benefit over 500 farmers across the State with WP30 Water Pump Machines with inlet and outlet hose to aid dry season farming.
With the provision of 171 units of small irrigation equipment, 139 units will go to Auchi, Etsako West Local Government and 32 units to Ovia South West Local Government Area. He added that the program installed de-stoning rice processing mills that will process 3 metric tons per day in Iguoriakhi and Agbede, Eme-Ora, Illushi, Warake and Oshomegbe which have empowered over 360 rice processors.
He admonished all the beneficiaries to be diligent in using the farming implements.
The program also installed 8-horse-power cassava processing mills with hydraulic presses at Ewosa in Igueben, Ogba in Oredo, Ikhide in Esan North East and Ojah Community in Akoko-Edo, amongst others.
