Akwa Ibom Farmers Seek Govt’s Assistance On Irrigation

The Akwa Ibom Large-Scale Farmers Association, has urged the state government to provide irrigation facilities to enable its members grow crops twice a year in order to  boost food production.

Speaking with newsmen recently in Uyo, the Public Relations Officer of the association, Mr Cornelius Sampson, said that the call became necessary due to the impact of climate change.

Sampson noted that the change in weather was hindering dry season planting, adding that the development could lead to low agricultural yields.

“In this part of the country, we used to have enough rainfall; but, this year, there has been fluctuations in rainfall and over the years, most of us have embarked on dry season farming, due to the heavy rainfall in this region.

“But due to climate change, our food production will be reduced.

“In this circumstance, we need artificial rain which is irrigation to enable us do our planting twice yearly to ensure adequate food production for the teeming population.”

He urged the farmers to use more of organic fertiliser, saying that it is more friendly to the crops and useful to the soil than chemical fertiliser.

He said that the association had made representation to government to procure more of organic fertiliser than chemical fertiliser for the next planting season.

The image maker appealed to the government to resuscitate ‘Young Farmers Club’ in secondary schools to rekindle interest in farming.

He also urged the people of the state, irrespective of profession, to own garden as part of their efforts to boost food production in the state.