The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Akwa Ibom chapter says the state government has distributed farm input to no fewer than 3, 000 farmers for this year’s planting season.
The AFAN Chairman in the state, Mr Bassey Inwang, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Thursday.
Inwang said the distribution was done by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Mary Ukoette, on behalf of the state government at the Seed Multiplication Farm, Ikot Ekang, Abak Local Government Area.
He said that the 3, 000 farmers were given cassava cuttings and maize grains to start the new planting season and ensure food sufficiency in the state.
The AFAN chairman commended Gov. Udom Emmanuel’s administration for making the distribution of the input possible and investigating in agriculture.
“The farm input were cassava cuttings and maize grains. They were distributed to 3,000 farmers this year.
“There was symbolic planting by the Ministry of Agriculture at Ikot Ekang, Abak, to officially commence the 2022 planting season,” he said.
Inwang also pleaded for more government’s support in the area of farm preparation.
According to him, farm clearing and preparation are capital intensive that requires more resources from farmers.
He said that there was need to move away from the traditional farming method to a more sophisticated and mechanised farming, for increase in yields and profit.
“Well, we ‘ll give them a pass mark. But we need more in the area of mechanised farming, especially in the area of farm preparation.
“We need tractors, harvesters and other mechanised farm equipment,” he said.
Inwang, who urged the people of Akwa Ibom to embrace agriculture, appealed to farmers to encourage the youths to be actively engaged in farming to feed the increasing population.
The AFAN chairman said the inauguration of FADAMA Micro Finance Bank in the state in February served as a facility to improve agriculture. (NAN)
