By Ruth Oginyi
To boost food sufficiency in Ebonyi State, the state Governor Francis Nwifuru has procured 13,000 bags of fertilizers for the farmers for the 2024 farming season.
The fertiliser would be shared to the farmers after the flag off next week.
Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Mrs Nkechinyere Iyioku disclosed this to members of Correspondents’Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) who paid her courtesy visit.
The commissioner also disclosed that the governor procured 15 brand new tractors for for farmers in the state.
She said that 98% of people of the state are farmers and that the government was making sure that the state compete favorably with some states of the federation in Agriculture especially the Northern states.
“Fertilizer this time around is very expensive but I have to thank His Excellency the Governor. The Governor doesn’t joke with anything about Agriculture. He still approved the same 13,000 bags we distributed to farmers last year.
” Most of the farmers are complaining about land preparation, that preparing land is mainly their major problem they are having.
“I said okay, before the wet season which is the season we are now, we will be able to buy the equipment that they will be using to prepare most of their lands.
” To the glory of God, we will be flagging of our 15 tractors that the Governor procured for the farmers. After the flag off, we will give it to them so that it will help them to prepare their lands”, she stated.
Iyioku, said the state poultry farm ( hatchery) which was moribund for many and has been revived, will 98% completion.
“By 1st week of June, we will be putting livestock in the poultry farm and we cannot be buying feed outside. So, His Excellency has also approved the construction of Ebonyi feed mill. It’s going to be massive. We will be feeding our livestock and also be empowering our people and most importantly, make IGR for the state and employ our people”, she said.
She urged Ebonyi people to develop interest in farming to to sustain their families .
She further said that about 150 women farmers under Ebonyi women in agriculture has been trained and empowered on rice, cassava and sweet corn production by the ministry in collaboration with with the pet project of the governor’s wife BERWO.
