By our Correspondent
Hybrid rice seeds have been distributed to farmers in Akwa Ibom state
The Ministry of Agriculture made the distribution of the hybrid rice seeds to farmers to develop nurseries and raise seedlings for planting in the four Local Government Areas of the State that are into the cultivation of rice.
The Local Government Areas that have benefitted from the gesture are Ini, Ibiono Ibom, Nsit Ubium and Uruan.
Presenting the rice seeds to the farmers, the Commissioner for Agriculture Dr. Glory Edet described rice as an everyday food in households that can hardly be done without, saying the gesture is for the state to produce enough rice for the people and for export.
Dr. Edet commended the rice farmers in the four Local Government Areas for cultivating rice all year round, and lauded State Governor for prioritizing agriculture during his tenure.
The Commissioner tasked the rice farmers not to sell the seeds but to raise nurseries and plant at least three times in the year and to consult the Ministry if they have challenges.
She advised youths in the State to embrace agriculture, plant crops of their choice and intimated the farmer that the ministry will soon go round to inspect their farms.
Dr. Glory Edet Commissioner for AgricultureThe Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Mary BasseyUkoetteand Director of Agriculture, Mr. Emmanuel Akpan said Governor Emmanuel wants to ensure food sufficiency in the state which is while the inputs are distributed to farmers to boost their yield, enjoining the rice farmers to make judicious use of the seeds.
The Chairman All Farmers Association of Nigeria Price Bassey Inwang, village Head of Ikpe Nkot Nkon Chief Ndueso Bassey and some stakeholders in Rice cultivation thanked the Ministry of Agriculture for ensuring that the vision of the governor properly translated.
