AKS-CARES PROGRAMME: MEDIUM TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, FOOD SUFFICIENCY
AKS-CARES, a COVID-19 action recovery & Economic Stimulus Programme has been identified as one of the means to create employment opportunities and the attainment of food sufficiency in the State.
The Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr (Mrs.) Offiong Offor made this assertion recently during an empowerment exercise for different farmers’ group across the State, held at the Green Field, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat Complex, Uyo.
Dr. Offor said the auspicious occasion was aimed at empowering farmers with inputs towards actualizing the vision of making Akwa Ibom State food sufficient.
She expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of our dear State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel for facilitating the event, which will further boost agricultural development in the State.
The Commissioner attributed the partnership of the State government with the World Bank and other donor agencies to the commitment of Governor Emmanuel to practical agriculture.
The Agriculture Boss recalled that Governor Udom Emmanuel officially launched AK-CARES in the State; a programme intended to cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the populace and added that, the event is an implementation stage of the process code-named, Result Area 2.
“The place of inputs in agriculture cannot be underestimated. I trust that, the beneficiaries will make optimal use of the items received, to achieve the desired outcome of the programme”, the Commissioner declared.
In his remarks, the Chairman State CARES Steering Committee/Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Emem Bob said the Governor gave approval for the project to commence on the 1st of August, 2022 and it was officially launched on 29th of the same month in the State.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Bob who commended the various empowerment programmes of the Ministry of Agriculture revealed that, the exercise was initiated to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 in the State.
In a goodwill message, the General Manager, Akwa Ibom State Community & Social Development Agency, Mr. Ishmael Akpan noted that, the agency is saddled with the responsibility of facilitating the community people to provide social infrastructure which will enhance their wellbeing, so at the official launch of AKS-CARES, cheques amounting to 13m each were disbursed to some benefitting communities and over 5,000 persons are expected to be accommodated in the programme.
In her message, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Mary Bassey stated that, the empowerment of farmers is made possible through Governor Emmanuel’ commitment to agriculture in the State.
Bassey, said garri is a staple for the Akwa Ibom people, hence the distribution of improved cassava stems and other inputs is a right step so far taken, to encourage food production.
The Head State Cares Coordinating Unit, Mrs. Enobong Okpongkpong, noted that the programme is transparent and will continue to touch the lives of all farmers in the State.
Okpongkpong, who expressed pleasure at the timely distribution of the items by the State government through Ministry of Agriculture, adjudged that the Ministry will ensure the success of the programme in line with laid down guidelines.
Earlier, setting the tone for the event, the State Project Coordinator, Mr. Richard Sam, stated that the event is concerned with Result Area 2, covering 4 Disbursement Link indicators (DLI) which include: Agricultured Inputs, Roads, Assets and Wet Markets.
Sam, said the target of DLI 1 and 3 is to distribute farm inputs to over 2,500 farmers in the State within the next two weeks.
Speaking on behalf of all the farmers, Rev. Fr. Linus Idio appreciated the State government, the Ministry of Agriculture and gave the assurance that they will make maximum use of the farm inputs received to ensure a food sufficient State.
Items distributed were rice seeds, improved cassava cuttings, fingerlings, fish feeds, fertilizers, among others.
