C’RIVER STATE GOVERNMENT DISTRIBUTES SOLAR PUMPS TO BOOST IRRIGATION ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE.

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By Ovat Lawrence.

 

 

 

The Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu in keeping with his “People’s First Agenda” and making the Agricultural sector the fulcrum of his Administration to boost food security and internally generated revenue (IGR), is walking his talk with the distribution of Solar Irrigation Pumps to farmers to boost irrigation activities across the State.

Government strategic plans for improved productivity in the agricultural sector have gained farmers’ trust with continuous intervention in Irrigation Development.

One of such activities recently executed by the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, was the distribution of solar pumps to farmers in the State.

Declaring the event open, the State Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo intimated that the solar pumps were meant to boost agricultural productivity as well as mitigate food insecurity currently ravaging the State and the Country at large.

Ebokpo admonished beneficiaries on judicious use of the farm inputs adding that the Ministry shall detail Agricultural Extension Agents to guide them adequately on the operation of the pumps.

The Agric. Commissioner revealed that the Cross River State Government has proposed a State-wide Irrigation Development Programme where empirical research will be carried out to ascertain the nature and infrastructural requirements in all tropical forest and savannah regions of the State, adding that results from the exercise will enable the state to establish more irrigation pumps, mini and major dams; all in a bid to increase productivity and food safety in the State.

When asked about the place of smallholder farmers as the State is plunging into full commercial farming, the Agric. Boss noted that smallholder farmers form a major part of farming activities.
“Government shall assist smallholder farmers to scale up their peasant farming through mechanisation which will indeed ensure that farm roads are being accessed using caterpillars, tractors, and other machines, and the entire process would be driven and made possible by smallholders farmers while pushing commercialisation to fruition”, the Commissioner explained.

In a separate reaction, the Director General of Rural Electricity Agency, Engr. Mrs. Rose. C Odor represented by Mr.Micah Ebinum maintained that the solar pumps were not meant to be kept at home or sold but used to boost food security in the State, warning that any beneficiary that sells the pumps shall be prosecuted within the frame of the law.

In a vote of thanks, Mrs. Eunice Bisong, Director of Agric Services, thanked the State Government for facilitating the process while also admonishing the Beneficiaries on adequate utilization of the solar pumps.

Dignitaries who graced the event were Mr. Obo Ayi, Head of Delivery FADAMA, Anake Christopher, Coordinator NG-Cares and Permanent Secretary, MIDC, and Mr. Obaji Samuel, the Technical Officer, FADAMA, among others.

Amawu Cletus Albert Amawu

I'm a Journalist, Publisher, Host/Producer of The Verdict, your voice of conscience on FAD FM 93.1, Calabar, Public Affairs Commentator, Social Change Agent.

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