A group of fish farmers in the Niger Delta region, under the aegis of Niger Delta Fishermen Congress (NDFC) has lauded the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for supporting farmers in coastal communities in the region. 
 
The group in a statement, signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Tamuno Jack, hailed the Samuel Ogbuku led NDDC management for its farmers’ friendly initiative. The group described the plan to supply fishing gears and boats, as well as oil palms processing equipment to fishermen and farmers, as a welcome development; particularly as the initiative aligns with the agricultural reforms vision of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. 
  
The group noted that the initiative is a bold step towards long-term poverty alleviation even as it is coming at a time farmers and fishermen urgently need assistance to sustain livelihoods that has been negatively impacted as a result of subsidy removal on fuel. 
 
The group said: “We are happy for this great initiative, especially as it would serve as a source of empowerment to beneficiaries when implemented.”
The group emphasised that the implementation of the initiative would enable farmers and fishermen in rural communities cope with the challenge of high cost of inputs for fishing and oil production. “We are happy because the initiative will help farmers and fishermen sustain their livelihoods and make farm produce and fisheries readily available to Nigerians at affordable market costs,” he said. 
  
The group added that: “the timely supply of fishing gears to fishermen and oil palms processing machines to farmers will reduce the cost of agricultural production, which in turn would translate into reduction in market costs of foodstuffs.”
  
NDFC however, urged the NDDC to commence implementation of the programme without delay. “We are concerned that delay in the implementation of this commendable initiative could undermine the laudable objectives considering the seasonal attention required by oil palm production and fishing activities” the statement noted.
  
NDFC expressed appreciation to the management of NDDC and particularly the Ogbuku led leadership for the forthrightness in putting together the sustainable livelihoods-friendly initiative, which will bring succor to farmers and fishermen in the Niger Delta region. The group reiterates its expectation that the programme will be launched soonest with full implementation commencing without delay.