AS ACTIVIST REX ANIGHORO HAILS GOVERNOR OKOWA’S AGRARIAN REVOLUTION

By Ochuko Jude O’Ruemu

ASABA - Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Julius Eyetan Egbedi has reiterated Governor Okowa’s commitment to ensuring a thriving agricultural sector assuring that Delta State can become the next food basket of the Nigerian Nation.

This affirmation was made recently when Activist Rex Ekiugbo Anighoro, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Civic Engagement and Civil Society together with the Delta State Civil Society Community engaged with the Commissioner when they paid him an Advocacy and Consultative visit.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Civic Engagement and Civil Society, Activist Rex Ekiugbo Anighoro commended the Commissioner for Agriculture for working tirelessly to make farming very attractive and fashionable amongst young people of the State, noting that with the way young people are embracing Agriculture in Delta State, Delta State could become the next food basket of not only the Nigerian Nation but also the West Africa sub-region.

He praised the Commissioner for his open-door policy in the implementation of the Ministry's programs and projects, urging him not to be deterred by implacable critics in his efforts at supporting small scale farmers and in making the Ministry of Agriculture, the reference point worthy of emulation by other States in Nigeria.

The Senior Aide to the Governor hailed Governor Okowa's commitment to Agrarian Revolution stating that it was unprecedented and an exemplary pursuit of Goal No2 of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which prioritizes Zero hunger.

Speaking on behalf of the leadership of the Delta State Civil Society Community, Ambassador Julius Olomukoro called for mutually beneficial partnerships between the Delta State Ministry of Agriculture and other Local, National and International organizations to guarantee the timely delivery of the said Goal No. 2. He expressed the readiness the Delta State Civil Society Community to partner with the Delta State Ministry of Agriculture for the benefit of the Citizens.

Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture in Delta State, Hon. Julius Eyetan Egbedi, who thanked the delegation for their timely visit noted that the Agriculture Ministry was working assiduously to deliver on the promises made by His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa for a Stronger Delta.

Quite worthy of note would be the following achievements:

1. Market-oriented Development of the commodity value-chains: In fulfilling this goal the Delta State Food Export Initiative was established to connect farmers and food processors to local and international markets so our local farmers could benefit by selling at better prices and generate higher incomes. Though this initiative is currently at a pilot phase, it is currently facilitating the production, packaging, branding, international certification and successful export of high quality garri to the United Kingdom.

2. The creation of food quality assurance and verification mechanisms along the cassava-garri value chain

3. Establishment of food quality testing laboratory

4. Establishment of state-of-the-art garri packaging factory at Issele-Uku

5. Existence of diaspora buyers of the high quality garri.

Hon. Egbedi further explained that the focus on foods export is due to its exponential impact and multiplier-effect on job and wealth creation with regards to direct and indirect benefits and incentives to cassava farmers, processors and logistics operators.

Furthermore, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture in briefing the Civil Society delegation explained that efforts are ongoing to include more cassava farmers and processors to this project, improve training of value chain operators, streamline the cassava supply chain, expand the demand market and increase the capacity utilization at the Issele-Uku packaging factory using part of the N2.0 billion earmarked for the agricultural sector in the 2020 fiscal year.

Honourable Egbedi concluded by stating that Delta State, in working to deliver on Goal No.2 of the Global Goals on Zero hunger, had executed a Special Agriculture Entrepreneurs Programme to train and equip Deltans with inputs and support packages to enable them adequately bridge the food shortage gap especially as may be occasioned by the Corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic. He stated that the Delta State YAGEP initiative has consistently trained and established thousands of Delta Youth in agriculture since 2015/2016.

The Commissioner for Agriculture further presented magazines detailing some of the ministries activities of to Activist Rex Ekiugbo Anighoro and the Civil Society Community delegation