Akwa Ibom State Government says it has decided to augment the Federal Government’s donation of 24,000 bags of 25kg rice by adding 24,000 more bags, making it a total of 48, 000 bags, to ameliorate the sufferings of the poor at the grassroots.
The state commissioner of Agriculture, Dr Offiong Offor, who bore the mind of the state Government during a press conference at the NUJ Press Center, Information Drive, Uyo on Friday, said the initiative by the state government is aimed at reaching more families with much-needed food support.
According to her, the state Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has expressed profound appreciation to the Federal Government for their care and responsiveness during this critical time, highlighting their alignment with the current struggles faced by the citizens.
She noted that through this food intervention, each of the 2,272 gazetted villages in the state will receive 20 bags of rice, disclosing that the gesture was in addition to the over 100,000 families from the social register who have already received, or will soon receive, free food items from the state government through the Bulk Purchase Agency.
“We are currently facing a significant developmental challenge: hunger caused by food insufficiency, unavailability, and inflation. This issue, a direct result of macro-economic factors, poses a challenge to both federal and state governments.
“According to our leader, Governor Umo Eno, times like these require creative thinking and taking responsibility, rather than indulging in blame games, which only worsen the situation.
“In response, Governor Eno has decided to augment the federal government’s donation by adding 24,000 bags to their 24,000 bags of 20kg rice. This initiative aims to reach more families with much-needed support.
“This intervention aims to mitigate the hardship currently faced by our citizens, reducing extreme hunger and poverty in line with Sustainable Development Goal 1. A hungry populace can lead to unrest, making food availability, affordability, and security a priority for this administration.
“Our long-term solution is the Back to Farm Initiative, promoting local food production, and designating the first and third Fridays of the month as work-free farming days,” the commissioner explained.
She said her Ministry has implemented several strategic interventions, including distributing cassava cuttings, maize grains, pepper seedlings, and coconut seedlings to at least 135 public primary and secondary schools.
“Additionally, we have distributed 150,000 cocoa seedlings to cocoa farmers, 40,000 oil palm seedlings to oil palm farmers, 80,000 pepper seedlings to vegetable farmers, 20 metric tonnes of rice shared to rice farmers across the state, and livestock and poultry supplies to poultry farmers.
“Furthermore, we have provided livelihood grants of N150,000 to 1,560 beneficiaries and agricultural inputs and services to 900 farmers under the AKCARES Scheme”. She added.
She informed that the distribution of the Federal and State Governments’ food intervention will occur at Local Government Council Headquarters, from where Council Chairmen will ensure the safe transportation of 20 bags to each gazetted village, even as distribution dates would be announced.
Hardship: Akwa Ibom govt to augment FG’s rice donation
