Edo State Commences Distribution of Irrigation Kits, Supports 516 Farmers
The Edo State Government has commenced 2022 dry season farming, by supporting over 516 smallholder farmers with irrigation equipment to boost farming activities in the state.
The items, distributed on Monday, to the Udo community, Ovia South West Local Government Area, were from the Nigeria Coronavirus Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus, N-CARES code, named EDO-CARES. N- CARES is a World Bank assisted project designed to ameliorate the adverse effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the poor and vulnerable people.
Specifically speaking at the event, the state commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Stephen Idehenre, explained that the project had rehabilitated 10-ton capacity cold room in Usen, Ovia South West local government for 40 beneficiaries.
He stated that the Government is committed to supporting and encouraging all year round farming in the Edo state by empowering farmers with irrigation equipment to boost production, adding that 2,200 beneficiaries had already been empowered.
His words: “Today, over 500 farmers will be empowered with the provision of 171 units of small Irrigation equipment, 139 units will go to Auchi, Etsako West local government and 32 units here at Ovia South West. ”
Presently, this programme has installed rice processing mills with destoners that have the capacity to process three metric tons per day in Iguoriakhi (Ovia South West) and Agbede (Etsako West).
“Others are Eme-Ora (Owan west), Illushi (Esan South East), Warake (Owan East) and Oshomegbe community (Etsako Central) thereby empowering over 360 rice processors. The cassava processors are not left out as 8HP Cassava processing mills with hydraulic press have been installed in Ojah community (Akoko Edo), Ewossa (Igueben), Ikhide (Esan North East) and Ogba (Oredo) among others. Resulting to the empowerment of 228 beneficiaries and finally 585 smallholder farmers have also been empowered with agricultural inputs across the state. The project has rehabilitated six wet markets in Okhokhugbo community in Egor, Ugoneki, Okokhuo community in Ovia North East and Ivbiaro community in Owan East among others.”
Similarly, the state project coordinator, EDO-CARES, Edward Izevbigie, in his remarks, said the project seeks to improve livelihood, increase food security and revive SMEs in the state.
He disclosed that the beneficiaries were selected from the state social register of the poor and vulnerable.
He noted that the state government has put in place programmes in agriculture, agroforestry, fisheries, livestock husbandry and other related small-scale industries that would facilitate production.
“In the state agripreneur programme for year 2020 and 2021, 444 hectares was cultivated for rice production in Agenebode, Warrake and Iguoriakhi. The programme also empowered 329 fish farmers to produce over 400,000 catfishes,” he said.
Meanwhile, a beneficiary, Mrs Glory Orji, on behalf of other beneficiaries appraised the state government for the opportunity, promising that the irrigation equipment would be utilized effectively.
Agro Nigeria
