Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), in collaboration with Bayelsa State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, has begun the training and empowerment of verified 250 beneficiaries of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) in the state.
The Permanent Secretary, FMAFS, Mr. Temitope Fadeshemi, made this known yesterday during the launch of the programme held at the state’s office of FMAFS in Yenagoa.
Fadeshemi, represented by the state Coordinator, FMAFS, Laureta Obioha, said the programme was taking place across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The items given to the beneficiaries were birds feeding, plants, fertilisers and other farming inputs.
He said the level of poverty in the country had reached a source for concern, noting that the number of people living on less than $1.90 a day in Nigeria had increased.
Fadeshemi said 12.9 per cent of the global population in extreme poverty was found in Nigeria as at 2022.
He added: “This is why the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning is collaborating with FMAFS to reduce poverty across the country.
“It is with great pleasure and pride that I stand before you as the Permanent Secretary of the FMAFS on this auspicious occasion; a crucial initiative under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS).
Read Also: Dollarisation: EFCC raises 14 task forces, arrests racketeers
“Today marks a significant milestone in our collective commitment to uplift the lives of our smallholder farmers and foster sustainable agricultural practices.”
Fadeshemi said the programme was not merely an investment in agriculture, but also an investment in the future of the nation.
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. David Alagoa, hailed FMAFS for the training and items donated to the 250 farmers to lift them out of poverty.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Souya Ebiye, Alagoa urged them to take the training seriously, saying in no distant time, they would begin to reap bountifully from the initiative.
Alagoa said Governor Douye Diri is doing all it takes to lift the people out of poverty through agricultural empowerment programmes that had taken place before now.
The Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Prof. Prince Ebiowei, advised the beneficiaries to keep record of their stocks, to know when they are running at loss or gain.