25,500 Farmers In The Niger Delta To Benefit From FG’s Agricultural Initiative

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has announced plans to empower 25,500 youths and women in rural areas across nine Niger Delta states through various agricultural initiatives. The empowerment programme is designed to boost food production, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in the region.

This initiative comes as farmers under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase One (ATASP-1) in the Adani-Omor Staple Crops Processing Zone praised the Federal Government for its recent approval of a 75% subsidy on agro-inputs, a move seen as critical to increasing productivity and supporting local farmers.

Dr. Abiodun Sanni, the National Project Coordinator for the initiative, shared details of the programme during a technical working session held in Owerri over the weekend. He stated that the empowerment is aimed at ensuring financial sustainability for beneficiaries, enhancing food security, and improving the economic prospects of rural communities in the Niger Delta.

Sanni, who was represented by his Technical Assistant, Mr. Bunmi Ogunleye, noted that the session, focused on group savings, loans, and bookkeeping, falls under the broader ‘Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Niger Delta Project.’ The initiative is expected to enhance the participants’ capacity to manage resources, improve their agricultural productivity, and increase employment opportunities in the region.

The programme is part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to address rural poverty, stimulate economic growth, and ensure food security in the Niger Delta, an area that is heavily reliant on agriculture for its livelihood.