BY SAMUEL IGBAVBOA
The Edo State Government in collaboration with the Nigeria-Covid Action Recovery Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), codenamed Edo CARES, has distributed 100 pieces of Defeathering Machines and 2.5KVA Elepaq EC5800CX power generating sets to poultry farmers across the State.
Speaking at the event held in the Agricultural Development Program (ADP) premises, the Program Manager, ADP, Mr. Edward Izevbigie, explained that the focus of the Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve livelihoods, increase food security and safe functioning of food supply chain to stimulate Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the State.
Izevbigie pointed out that Edo CARES under the auspices of the State Government has launched the dry season farming by supporting over 516 Small Holder Farmers (SHF) with 171 pumping machines that have inlet and outlet hoses in the three Senatorial Districts of the State.
He added that the State Government has zero-tolerance for hunger, poverty and malnutrition amongst its citizenry.
According to him, the State Government has continued to create an enabling environment for farmers to get optimum yields from their farm ventures at all times.
Izevbigie also said that the State Government has put in place programs in Agroforestry, Fishery, Livestock and other related small-scale industries and services that will lead to increased production, adding that the ADP provides farmers with access to improved extension services and high yielding seeds.
He listed the programmes to include the allocation of 45,000 hectares of land to six investors under Edo State Oil Palm Program (ESOPP); 444 hectares for the cultivation of rice in Warrake, Agenebode and Iguoriakhi; Empowering 329 fish farmers with production infrastructure, assets and inputs; and the Independent Farmers Initiatives (IFI) Program which provided seeds, crop protection products (CPP) and inorganic fertilizers to 2,050 small scale farmers.
Izevbigie further said that the equipment are free of charge and that the beneficiaries were selected from the Data To Mega records for transparency, urging them to make judicious use of the equipment to enable them contribute to the State Government’s drive in making the State hunger free.
The State Project Coordinator, Edo CARES Result Area II, Mrs. Alufokhai Ifueko, represented by Mr. Ojomoh Osahon, lauded Governor Godwin Obaseki’s drive in improving farmers’ welfare and creating an enabling platform for agricultural development in the State.
She urged the beneficiaries to put the equipment to use and warned against the sale of the machines or the storage of the machines without use, as a monitoring team has been mandated to ensure that the machines are put to optimum use.
Beneficiaries including Mrs. Ibahafidon Rosemary of Idumabo Farmers Association, located in Esan Central Local Government Area, lauded the State Government’s support for poultry farmers. She added that she was surprised to be one of the beneficiaries.
Another beneficiary, Mr. Imhontu Festus of Ewossa Farmers Community Association, in Igueben, thanked the State Government for the timely intervention as the Defeathering Machine will boost his returns during the yuletide season and promised to use and maintain the equipment.
