News in Brief:
– Governor Eno of Akwa Ibom state is prioritising a return to agriculture to address rising food prices.
– He announced the revival of the state-owned poultry hatchery and work-free days for civil servants to cultivate crops, aiming for self-sufficiency and lower food prices.
Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has made a passionate plea to citizens seriously consider a return to agriculture as a means to combat rising food prices.
The governor made this appeal recently in a speech during the commemoration of his one year of stewardship of the state. He also revealed plans by the state government to boost agriculture specifically mentioning plans to revive the state-owned Prime hatchery, located in Uruan area of the state.
According to Eno, plans to revive the moribund hatchery followed years of inactivity, owing to the unsuccessful approach to the business employed by the former lease holders. Subsequently, operations at the hatchery, were suspended.
However, he has pledged to revisit the project as a means to boost the livelihood and nutritional needs of the state’s residents. Additionally, he expressed openness to private sector collaboration to ensure a successful relaunch of the hatchery.
Long-term solution to embrace agriculture
In the light of current harsh economic climate in the country, the governor acknowledged the immediate challenges of high food prices, yet stressed the importance of a long-term solution.
He disclosed that this solution must have a renewed focus on food security and self-sufficiency. He clarified that the state’s Bulk Purchase Agency prioritises supporting vulnerable populations rather than manipulating market prices.
Effectively, the plea to return to farming is seen by many stakeholders as an effective strategy of ensuring food security, while combating rising prices of food items.
It would be recalled that the governor backed this posture with action, when he declared every first and last Friday of the month work-free days for civil servants. This initiative, dubbed the ‘Back to the Farm’ program, aims to empower civil servants to dedicate time to cultivating food crops.
