Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has declared ‘Operation Feed Everybody’ in the state and distributed agro-inputs to 2, 000 farmers.
Nwifuru made the declaration during the official flag-off of agro-inputs and asset distribution at the FADAMA office, Onuebonyi, in Abakaliki on Thursday.
The governor, represented by his Deputy Governor Patricia Obila, said that the farmers were carefully selected from the 13 LGAs in the state, and added that the best way to end food insecurity is to empower rural and practical farmers.
Nwifuru noted that the programme, which is FADAMA CARES Result Area 2, would be beneficial to 2,000 farmers who are to access crop and livestock inputs.
He stated that the programme would support rice and cassava farmers to produce maximally, stating that the plan is to ensure food sufficiency and enhance livelihood while improving the standard of living.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs Nkechinyere Iyioku, commended Governor Nwifuru for what he is doing in the ministry, adding that the distribution, which started on Thursday, would run until the weekend.
She further emphasised that the distribution has been scheduled for the three senatorial zones on different days. She maintained that individuals and cooperatives would duly get their items based on their already profiled and available data.
She admonished all Nigerians to go back to farming, as farming does not stop one from engaging in one’s professional or career job to truly bring an end to the food shortage in the country.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Anthony Nwegede called on farmers to take advantage of the Nwifuru administration to make Ebonyi a basket food of the nation in the country.
Items distributed include rice seeds, cassava cuttings, fertiliser, agrochemicals, broilers, day-old chicks, pig feed, fish juveniles, rice threshers, knapsacks, grinding machines, water pumps and others.
