BY PATRICK MGBODO/BLESSING EDIKE
The Delta State Government has called on all farmers and agro-allied entrepreneurs to collaborate with its MORE Agenda in tackling food insecurity by taking advantage of its interventions to ensure a more secured food supply for all Deltans.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Val Arenyeka issued the call during a press conference held to mark the 2024 World Food Day, themed ‘’Right to Food for A Better Life and Better Future’’
Arenyeka noted that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration has invested a lot in improving food production and eliminating hunger in the state through numerous programs and interventions.
‘’Global hunger is one of the biggest problems facing our world today. The hard truth is that we are not on track to achieving zero hunger by 2030 at the present pace. Estimates suggest we will still have 670 million people experiencing hunger by then. Despite this, there is still reason to keep fighting and Delta State Government is highly committed to fighting hunger in the State. ‘’The theme of the year’s World Food Day is to ensure that there is enough food production that will eradicate hunger, and guarantee the right of Deltans to food and this is fully tackled by this administration. For instance, the State government have set up a committee on flooding that ravages our communities and destroys our farm produce.
‘’Also, the Government is already enforcing the law passed by the House of Assembly “on Delta State livestock, breeding, rearing and marketing” which is tackling the menace of herdsmen attacks on crops and the lives of our citizens. ‘’Also, this administration is at the top of tackling all the challenges facing food production in the State through the MORE Agenda. In this Agenda, there will be meaningful development in the Agricultural Sector, the farm settlements will be revamped and the communal farms will be organized to engage every youth and woman in farming. ‘’The cassava and rice development programme, the Oil palm and Coconut Development Programme will be meaningfully developed to generate revenue for the State and farmers. Also, the livestock and fishery sector will be holistically developed.
‘’This government is determined to eliminate hunger in the state and to ensure the right of citizens to food, a committee have been set up on food security in the state. To show more commitment to boost agricultural production, the state agricultural budget which used to be about N1bn has been increased to N7bn which is over 800 per cent since 2023. ‘’The state government is already tackling the menace of flooding which is affecting food production during the rainy season which made our farmers suffer loss in their Agric business enterprise.
‘’To this end, the government have set aside funds for dry season farming to make sure there is all-round food production all through the year. This is to ensure enough and affordable food for all Deltans thereby securing their rights to food for a better life and a better future.
‘’Governor Oborevwori upon assumption of office has scaled up the activities in the agricultural sector tremendously, he has started the development at an agro-industrial park in Aboh- Ogwashi-Uku, this will bring together all agricultural activities in one place, where the case of doing Agric business will be achieved. Also, the state government is distributing palliative to farmers to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal and to boost agricultural production in the state.
‘’There are so many programmes going on in the agricultural sector which includes; the oil palm development program, the Delta coconut development program, the rice program, the cassava program, the fisheries and livestock development program (grass cutter, goat, piggery and poultry production).
‘’It is our firm belief that with the above-mentioned interventions and many more not listed here which are on the pipeline and with the cooperation and determination of all stakeholders in the agricultural sector, Delta is poised to overcome food insecurity’’ he said.
