By Wilbet Ijeoma (NewsView)
No fewer than 70 farmers in Owerre-Olubor, Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, have received agricultural inputs under the Delta State Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus, D-CARES/FADAMA programme.
The beneficiaries, comprising 50 maize farmers and 20 poultry farmers, received the support on Monday at St. Barnabas Anglican Church Hall, Owerre-Olubor, in an intervention aimed at improving agricultural productivity, food security and household incomes.
The programme was facilitated by the Delta State Government under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and represented by the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Chairman of the D-CARES State Steering Committee, Hon. Sonny Ekedayen.
Ekedayen, who presented the inputs to the beneficiaries, urged them to see the intervention as an opportunity to transform their livelihoods, warning against diverting the agricultural inputs for purposes other than farming.
He said the support was designed to move the beneficiaries from their current economic conditions to a higher level of financial sustainability.
“The State Government’s objective of the intervention is to move you from your present level to a higher level of economic sustainability,” Ekedayen said.
He explained that D-CARES was a World Bank initiative being implemented under the Federal Government’s NG-CARES framework, with FADAMA responsible for identifying genuine farmers through field data.
The Commissioner disclosed that Owerre-Olubor was the 14th community reached under the programme in Ika North-East, bringing the number of beneficiary farmers reached in the local government area to 930.
According to him, the poultry beneficiaries could reap substantial financial benefits as their birds mature, particularly during the Christmas season, while maize production had remained a viable agricultural venture with increasing returns.
Ekedayen further advised the farmers to reinvest proceeds from their agricultural activities into other profitable businesses to create multiple sources of income.
‘FADAMA will not leave you alone’
Also speaking, the State Coordinator of D-CARES,
Lady Dr. Patience Ogbewe, described the intervention as “light that has come inside darkness,” saying the excitement displayed by the beneficiaries was evidence of the impact of the programme.
Ogbewe said the community had initially received the FADAMA team warmly during its sensitisation exercise, adding that such cooperation was essential to the success of the programme.
She explained that FADAMA operates under Result Area 2 of D-CARES and plays a critical role in increasing agricultural yields and strengthening food security in Delta State.
The coordinator urged the beneficiaries, many of whom were traditional farmers, to embrace the FADAMA approach and take advantage of the technical support and supervision available under the programme.
“FADAMA will not leave you alone,” Ogbewe assured, stressing that the programme would continue to monitor the farmers and provide the necessary expertise to help them succeed.
She described agriculture as a major contributor to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development and urged the beneficiaries to be hardworking and ensure that the inputs provided translate into increased production and improved incomes.
Ogbewe also commended Governor Oborevwori for the empowerment initiative.
‘Government truly works’
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, FADAMA, and Technical Head, D-CARES Result Area 2, Mrs. Therese Omame, congratulated the beneficiaries and said the intervention had fulfilled the objective of bringing hope and economic opportunities to the community.
Omame recalled that FADAMA had already established its presence in several communities across Ika North-East, including Igbodo, Ekwuoma, Owa-Alero and Ute-Erumu.
She said the people of Owerre-Olubor were initially skeptical when the team came for community sensitisation, but the presentation of inputs had now provided tangible evidence of the government’s commitment to the people.
“The people of Owerre-Olubor were skeptical when FADAMA came for community sensitisation, but today’s event is a testimony that government truly works,” she said.
The Deputy President-General of the community, Mr. Elumeze Augustine, thanked Governor Oborevwori and the FADAMA team for remembering the people of Owerre-Olubor.
Elumeze said the intervention was a demonstration of the government’s sincerity in empowering residents and called for the programme to be sustained and extended to more members of the community.
He also assured the government of the community’s support.
Beneficiary: ‘Today is a day of fulfilment’
One of the beneficiaries, Apostle Goodness George Omaka, described the occasion as “a day of fulfilment and accomplishment of expectations.”
Omaka said the intervention had renewed the people’s confidence in government after an initial period of uncertainty about the programme.
He expressed gratitude that the long wait had eventually resulted in tangible support that would improve the livelihoods of farmers in the community.
The Commissioner subsequently led the presentation of input vouchers and agricultural inputs to the beneficiaries, urging them to put the materials to productive use.
The beneficiary groups included Ohumachukwu Maize Farmers, Onyedika Maize Farmers, Uzochikwa Maize Farmers, Winners Maize Farmers, Onuwa Maize Farmers, Chidima Poultry Farmers and Grassroot Poultry Farmers.
Also present were the Head of Operations, D-CARES Coordinating Unit, Mr. Christopher Oyenike; Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Economic Planning, Mrs. Ese Obote; community leaders and staff of the D-CARES office.
The event featured the presentation of agricultural inputs and vouchers, goodwill messages, presentation of kolanuts by the community, media interviews and a group photograph.
In his closing remarks, Ekedayen urged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the government’s gesture by making productive use of the support, adding, “One good turn deserves another.”
He also called on the people of Owerre-Olubor to support Governor Oborevwori, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC candidates in the forthcoming general elections.