Edo State launches 2022 dry season farming

Edo State in Nigeria has launched the 2022 dry season farming. The programme was launched under the Edo (FADAMA) CARES Result Area II of Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Scheme with a goal of alleviating hunger and encouraging agricultural production.

The State Government marked the launch with distribution of irrigation equipment to over 500 farmers. The state has also acquired equipment and trained farmers for agro-processing in its quest to boost food production across different locations in the state.

Food production

Ovia South-West Local Council, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Stephen Idehenre said the intervention seeks to empower smallholder farmers with small irrigation equipment to aid food production during the dry season.

“Edo State Government through its intervention project, Edo CARES, is strengthening the momentum towards all-year-round farming. We are empowering smallholder farmers with small irrigation equipment. Over 500 farmers will be empowered with the provision of 171 units of small irrigation equipment. 139 units of the equipment will be distributed at Auchi, Etsako West local council and 32 units would go to farmers in Ovia South-West local council,” he said.

“Edo State is making steady progress in the agricultural sphere. Agriculture remains a major economic pillar for job and wealth creation and we are taking advantage of these potential to develop the state. We have attracted investments valued at $532.2m from nine firms to the oil palm sector alone, via the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP). A total of 62,500 hectares have been allocated to investors and is expected to create over 200,000 jobs across the value chain and add over 100,000 metric tons of crude palm oil (CPO) by 2030,” Idehenre added.