By: Esther Okoi
The Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu has concluded modalities to empower women and young farmers under the Renewed Hope Initiative, Agriculture Support Programme in the State.
The Agriculture Support programme is aimed at fostering sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing food security across the nation.
This was revealed by the Press Secretary, Office of the Wife of Governor, Mrs. Faith Okon-Egbujiem during a press briefing held at the Solomon Uno Lodge, Calabar, where she also disclosed that the Renewed Hope Initiative Agriculture Support Programme will provide each beneficiary the opportunity to expand their agriculture venture, while contributing to local and national food production.
According to her, the Renewed Hope Initiative, a “pet project of the Wife of the President , Her Excellency, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, is committed to support Women and Young Farmers to align with the broader agenda to strengthen the agriculture sector and contribute to the attainment of food security in the country.”
She noted that the programme is segmented into four key agriculture focused initiatives namely: the Women Agricultural Support Programme; Youth Agricultural Support Programme; Every Home a Garden and Young Farmers Club.
She added that Cross River State has been empowered to train and empower women farmers, support young farmers, encourage garden farms in every home and revitalise the Young Farmers Clubs in schools.
The Press Secretary further revealed that 320 persons according to their preference on Crop Production, Fishery and Poultry Production including Baking and Confectionaries; as well as 30 schools across the State will benefit from the Renewed Hope Initiative Agriculture Support Programme, spreading across the three senatorial districts of the State.
According to her, beneficiaries in the fishery will be empowered with 200 Juveniles, a fiber tank, 2 bags of feeds and medications while those in poultry production would get 50 day old chicks, 2 bags of starter feeds and 2 bags of finisher feeds each
She maintained that those that would be trained on crop production and those that will partake in “every home a garden” will be empowered with improved maize seeds, Okra, Pumkin seeds, organic fertilizer, watering cans, and herbicides.
On the essence of the four agriculture initiatives, the Press Secretary mentioned that it is purposed to help women and farmers gain skills and improve food production and nutrition; teaching young farmers better farming practices and skills, including areas like home economics and nutrition; encouraging every Nigerian family to cultivate a garden at home to feed the family and share with neighbours as well as help boost household-level food security and potentially create income generating opportunities through surplus yield; and revitalising school farming as a way to inspire their interest in agriculture.
Mrs. Okon-Egbujiem further explained that “to effectively deliver on the objectives of the Renewed Hope Initiative Agriculture Support Programme, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Cross River State, and the State Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development are spearheading the process in collaboration with the office of the wife of the Governor.”
She called on stakeholders in the agricultural sector including community leaders, as well as Non-Governmental Organisations to support the initiative to ensure a smooth implementation of the programme in the State.
Fielding questions from newsmen, shortly after the parley, the Senior Special Adviser Administration, Office of the Wife of Governor, Dr. Comfort Oko disclosed that the sum of N68,913,515.50 (sixty-eight million, nine hundred and thirteen thousand, five hundred and fifteen naira, fifty kobo) was disbursed to the coordinating Ministry of Agriculture for the programme implementation.
She added that beneficiaries would be chosen based on their prior exposure to the available value chains for sustenance and value addition.
On his part, the State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Asim, Eta Asim informed news men that the Federal and State Ministries of Agriculture will provide seasoned resource persons for training and capacity building of beneficiaries with focus on value addition to each of their chosen value chain.
Responding to the question on whether more schools will be included in the Young Farmers Club, the Special Assistant New Media and Communication, Office of Wife of the Governor, Mr. Kenneth Anam mentioned that 10 schools will be picked from each of the senatorial districts for the programme, adding that subsequently, other schools will be added.
