Minister Flags Off free Distribution Of Chicken To Rivers Farmers

Rubbles of the Marine Base Timber Market, Port Harcourt gutted by fire recently.

The Federal Government has challenged multinational oil companies operating in Rivers state to key into the Federal Government’s Growth Enhancement Support (GES) under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) so as to assist farmers in the state.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina threw the challenge yesterday  at the flagging off of free distribution of Shika Brown Layer Birds to community farmers in OML58 organised by Total E & P at TEPNG Seed Multiplication Centre, Obukuru, Egi in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. Adesina, who was represented at the event by the Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Rivers State, Elder Ime Umoh, stated that by so doing, the multinationals would be assisting the small scale farmers to develop and grow into big time farmers.
He said the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in its avowed commitment to Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda, has embarked on a paradigm shift in the agricultural sector with some primary focus on agriculture as a business, utilizing the transformation of the sector to create jobs, and wealth, and ensure food security.
The Minister noted that crops, livestock and Fisheries value chain have recorded spectacular successes in primary production, processing and marketing.
He further disclosed that the Ministry is presently empowering farmers as well as farming co-operatives in Rivers State with starter packs of 100-Day old chicks, vaccines, feeds, live goats, credit facilities as well as provision of fertilizers.He explained that the Staple Crops Processing Zone (SCPZ)  at Okorolo-in Andoni Local Government Area was established to attract private sector agribusinesses to set up processing plants in zones of high food production, to process commodities into food products.Adesina commended Total E&P, organizers of the programme for empowering the local farmers, stressing that the company has shown commitment to sustainable development in the agricultural sector.
Total distributed 3,730-Day old chicks of the Nigerians indigenous breed of layers, ‘Shika Brown’ to 50 community farmers in OML58 under its Growth Enhancement Scheme.

Chris Oluoh