By Wilbet Ijeoma

The Delta State Government has distributed agricultural inputs and vouchers to 70 farmers in Ogbe-Udu community, Udu Local Government Area, under the Delta Community Action for Resilience and Economic Sustainability (D-CARES) programme, in a move aimed at boosting food production, household income and economic sustainability among beneficiaries.

The distribution, which took place on October 31, 2026, was part of Result Area 2 of the D-CARES programme, being implemented through the FADAMA delivery platform.

The beneficiaries comprise 30 fish farmers, 20 poultry farmers, 10 vegetable farmers and 10 cassava farmers, with the intervention designed to support them with improved agricultural inputs and create opportunities for increased production and income.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Sonny Ekedayen, congratulated the beneficiaries, describing the intervention as evidence that government programmes can translate into tangible benefits for citizens.

Ekedayen said the inclusion of 70 farmers from Ogbe-Udu demonstrated the state government’s commitment to creating opportunities for Deltans, in line with the administration’s MORE Agenda.

According to him, 11 communities in Udu Local Government Area had so far benefited from the intervention.

“As Deltans, I believe we’re smart enough to utilize these inputs judiciously and translate them into some level of economic sustainability,” the Commissioner said.

He explained that the improved breeds and inputs provided to the beneficiaries were expected to increase agricultural yields, which would in turn boost household incomes and contribute to food security in the state.

‘Turn Opportunity Into Family Prosperity’

Ekedayen, who is also Chairman of the State Steering Committee of D-CARES, commended the strong representation of women among the beneficiaries and urged them to make effective use of the opportunity to improve the economic circumstances of their families.

He expressed optimism that the intervention, particularly in the poultry sector, could generate substantial returns for beneficiaries within a short period.

The Commissioner said poultry farmers could potentially generate about N1 million from the sale of mature birds, noting that such earnings could be reinvested into agriculture or other profitable ventures.

He said the broader objective of the programme was to contribute to the growth of Delta’s macro-economy by strengthening livelihoods and expanding productive activities at the grassroots.

Ekedayen also appealed to the people of Ogbe-Udu to support Governor Oborevwori’s re-election bid and other APC candidates in appreciation of the government’s intervention in the community.

D-CARES: Delta Has Gone Beyond the Mark — Ogbewe

The State Coordinator of D-CARES, Lady Dr Patience Ogbewe, commended Governor Oborevwori for supporting Deltans through the programme and praised the Commissioner for ensuring the distribution of the agricultural inputs.

Ogbewe described the successful implementation of D-CARES as evidence of the benefits of democratic governance, stressing that the programme was not limited to Delta State.

She explained that D-CARES is Delta State’s domestication of the NG-CARES programme, which is being implemented across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

“It is an NG-CARES programme domesticated in Delta State as D-CARES, and Delta State has gone beyond the mark,” she said.

According to Ogbewe, the developmental objective of the programme is to ensure that beneficiaries are taken to a better economic position than where they started.

She linked the intervention to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2, which seeks to end hunger, achieve food security and promote sustainable agriculture.

The coordinator urged beneficiaries not to sell the inputs provided to them, but to nurture them carefully and use them productively in order to achieve the intended economic impact.

Earlier, the State Project Coordinator of FADAMA and Technical Head of D-CARES Result Area 2, Mrs Therese Omame, congratulated the beneficiaries for remaining committed to the programme despite initial doubts in some quarters.

Omame said the distribution marked the materialisation of a programme that some members of the communities had initially questioned during sensitisation exercises.

She recalled that some people had walked away during community sensitisation because they were sceptical about the programme, adding that the successful distribution of the inputs had now demonstrated that the initiative was genuine.

She urged the beneficiaries to appreciate the state government and ensure that the inputs were put to productive use, expressing confidence that the intervention would improve their livelihoods

The Ogbe-Udu community spokesperson, Mr Augustine Lajaibo, praised the governor for empowering farmers in the community and expressed confidence that the intervention would translate into improved living conditions.

Lajaibo also assured the governor of the community’s support for his re-election, saying the level of support would surpass the community’s performance in previous elections.

Similarly, a community leader and beneficiary, Mr Sido Efeoghene Nathaniel, thanked the governor for what he described as a “handshake of love” extended to the community.

Nathaniel explained that community leaders became interested in the programme after observing that neighbouring communities had benefited from the intervention.

He dismissed concerns that the selection of beneficiaries had been politicised, saying the programme had been adequately publicised and facilitated through the community leadership rather than political structures.

According to him, some prospective beneficiaries had withdrawn during the process because of concerns about the money required to open a cooperative account, but those who remained have now witnessed the programme’s implementation.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Merry Ohwojevwe, a vegetable farmer, expressed appreciation to Governor Oborevwori for extending the intervention to residents irrespective of their political affiliations.

Ohwojevwe said the support would help transform the lives of beneficiaries and expressed optimism that the people of Ogbe-Udu would reciprocate the gesture with strong support for the governor.

The beneficiary groups that received the inputs included Ogherhimor Cassava Farmers, represented by Vick Clark; Favour Fish Farmers, represented by Patrick Kona; Prudence Poultry Farmers, represented by Godwin Okomitete; and Ejiroghene Vegetable Farmers, represented by Ohwojevwe Merry.

The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the governor and pledged to utilise the inputs productively, with the expectation that the intervention would improve their livelihoods and contribute to the economic development of their families and community.

They also assured the governor of their support for his MORE Plus Agenda.

Also present at the event were the Head of Operations, D-CARES Coordinating Unit, Mr Christopher Oyenike; Special Adviser to the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Hon. Charles Iyoha; Ogbe-Udu community spokesperson, Mr Augustine Lajaibo; community leader, Mr Sido Efe Nathaniel; and staff of the D-CARES office.

The event featured opening remarks, addresses by the State Coordinator and Commissioner for Economic Planning, presentation of vouchers and agricultural inputs to beneficiaries, media interviews and a group photograph.

The intervention represents another grassroots component of the D-CARES programme, with the state government seeking to strengthen household livelihoods, improve agricultural productivity and enhance food security through direct support to farmers.