Akwa Ibom State is set to revolutionize its rural landscape with a massive infrastructure boost. The state government has announced an ambitious plan to fix 486 rural roads to bridge the gap between rural and urban areas.
This game-changing initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, aims to unlock the full potential of the state’s agricultural sector.
According to Dr. Offiong Offor, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development, this project is a collaborative effort with the World Bank and French Development Agency, under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project.
By upgrading these rural roads, the state government seeks to create a seamless connection between farming communities and urban centers, paving the way for economic growth and food security.
The announcement was made during a ministerial briefing on Arise Scorecard Season 1.0, themed “Food Security and Sufficiency,” which brought together key stakeholders, including the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Ini Ememobong, the Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Emem Bob, and the Chairman of the Bulk Purchase Agency, Mr. Dan Akpan.
This visionary move is poised to transform the lives of rural dwellers and solidify Akwa Ibom’s position as a hub for agricultural excellence.
Offor said, “When the rural roads are fixed, there will be a reduction in post-harvest losses, as farm produce will be easily conveyed to the urban areas.
The commissioner highlighted the government’s commitment to food production through the distribution of farm inputs to different farmers and cooperative groups, adding that the AK-CARES project is another state government intervention, also in collaboration with the World Bank, which has contributed to poverty alleviation, hunger eradication and reducing the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
She emphasized the importance of cooperative groups in increasing food production, adding that when people come together, they crossbreed ideas, easily access finance, and stand a better chance of having more resources for production as group farming was encouraged over individual farming.”
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The commissioner said the Young Farmers Club has been revived in public schools to foster interest and participation of students in farming activities.
She averred, “Governor Eno has supported public secondary schools and boarding schools in providing food for their students, by giving them farm inputs.
I formation Commissioner, Comrade Ememebong underscored the significance of the briefing in effectively communicating the government’s efforts towards achieving food sufficiency and addressing multi-dimensional poverty, particularly in rural areas.
The Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Bob, said the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the removal of petroleum subsidy by the President Boka Ahmed Tinubu-led administration prompted the idea of the AK-CARES project to support vulnerable households and farmers across the state.
Bob revealed that approximately 2.3 million households at risk have been identified in the state social register, set to gain from the Bulk Purchase Intervention.
Mr. Aniekan Umanah, the governor’s Media Consultant, praised the efforts aimed at ensuring food accessibility, affordability, and stability.
Umanah implored the people of Akwa Ibom to embrace agriculture and back the government’s commitment to investing in the sector.
Providing additional insight into the importance of the Bulk Purchase Intervention, Rt. Hon. Dan Akpan, the agency’s chairman, reassured the public regarding the quality of distributed food items and solicited their support to ensure the intervention’s success.