A’Ibom, Solidaridad to distribute 1,200 oil palm seedlings to farmers

An international Civil Society Organisation, Solidaridad, has partnered with Akwa Ibom State government to distribute 1200 oil palm seedlings to smallholder farmers in the state.

Flagging off the distribution of oil palm seedlings in Uyo, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Offiong Offor, appreciated Solidaridad for complementing government efforts towards achieving food security in the state.

Offor, who said the importance of empowerment of people in agriculture could not be over-emphasised, stressed that the initiative would empower the beneficiaries to become more financially independent.

“We all know that Udom Emmanuel has always supported farmers with inputs, all geared towards improving food security and sufficiency in the state. Food is the most basic need of man.

“We appreciate Solidaridad for this initiative …. Thank you for complementing the effort of this administration. Thanks for being a dependable partner,” she said.

Earlier, Mr Kenechukwu Onukwube, the Project Manager, Solidaridad Nigeria, explained that providing improved oil palm seedlings to farmers was an area of intervention by Solidaridad currently in four states of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Enugu and Kogi States.

He explained that the organisation decided to intervene in the area after the organisation carried out a study on the status of oil palm in the states and discovered there was challenge of decrease in the yield and attendant low income to farmers and revenue for the government.