Tackling The Challenges Of Food Insecurity: Governor Umo Eno’s Example

By Ekemini James

In a remarkable effort to tackle the challenges of food insecurity and transform the economic fortunes of the state, Akwa Ibom State is witnessing tremendous transformation in its agricultural sector, courtesy of the visionary leadership of Governor Umo Eno, who has launched and supported several initiatives to harness the untapped potential of agriculture and make it the mainstay of the state’s economy.

One of these initiatives is the AK-CARES Agric Scheme, a special intervention scheme in partnership with World Bank and Federal Government that aims to help enhance farming activities, thereby increasing food production in the state.

Another groundbreaking initiative that is set to boost agricultural development in the state is the Ibom Model Farm, a 50 hectares integrated and organic farm that was flagged-off in Ikot Edibon, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area. The farm is designed to revolutionize the state’s agricultural sector by combining crop production, animal husbandry, aquaculture, and agro-processing. This comprehensive approach will not only ensure food security, but also create employment, income and empowerment opportunities for the people of Akwa Ibom State.

The Ibom Model Farm is a fulfilment of Governor Umo Eno’s campaign promise to the people of Akwa Ibom State, and a manifestation of the agricultural revolution pillar of the ARISE Agenda, which seeks to improve the well-being of the people by ensuring food security, creating jobs, and enhancing the economy of the state.

The farm will not only provide jobs for about 1,000 AkwaIbomites, excluding the value chain, but also serve as a tourism destination and a business hub for the state. With a hotel, a conference hall, a zoo, and other recreational facilities that will attract visitors and investors from within and outside the state, the farm is poised to transform the economic fortunes of Akwa Ibom and contribute to its overall development and prosperity.

As part of his visionary strategy of recognizing the pivotal role of the younger generation in driving economic growth, Governor Umo Eno has sponsored 31 youths to undergo intensive training in the field of agriculture where they gained requisite and professional knowledge and skills. These youths, upon completing their training will become inspiring pioneers, leading the replication of the Ibom Model Farm initiative within Akwa Ibom State. By providing them with comprehensive mentorship and opportunities to become agribusiness owners, Governor Umo Eno is creating an ecosystem that is conducive for long-term success and economic growth.

In addition to these agricultural initiatives, Governor Eno has urged local governments to donate 50 to 100 hectares of land for the state government to engage people, provide seedlings and other inputs, and be ready to off-take the produce.

Aside the massive production of food, Governor Umo Eno’s administration has also identified the need for accessibility to and availability of food across the state and has ensured that farmers in rural areas of the state have to access urban markets. So far, construction is ongoing in about 11km Owot Uta – Nung Oku Ekere – Afaha Udo Eyop – Edebom by Ekponwa Market Roads connecting Ibesikpo Asutan with Nsit Ibom Local Government Area through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), through partnership with the World Bank and RAAMP.

By pioneering the state’s shift from overdependence on oil revenue to a diverse and thriving agricultural sector, this visionary initiative promises to revolutionize both the state’s economy and the livelihoods of its people. With a comprehensive approach and an array of integrated facilities, the Ibom Model Farm showcases Governor Eno’s commitment to fostering sustainable development and empowering the people of Akwa Ibom State.

These initiatives are remarkable examples of Governor Umo Eno’s commitment to social welfare and economic development inline with the ARISE Agenda. Through these measures, his administration is making a positive impact on the lives of its citizens and effectively addressing the challenges posed by the contemporary economic hardship, occasioned by the recent fuel subsidy removal.