In his effort to re-position Agricultural sector and make it a viable revenue earner for the state, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Matthew Ekaette has disclosed that the government of Governor Udom Emmanuel intends to adopt a Public-Private Partnership approach to fast track agricultural development.
Speaking with newsmen at a three-day agricultural stakeholders meeting organized by the ministry of agriculture in the three senatorial districts of the state, the Commissioner disclosed that through Public-Private Partnership, agriculture will be re-positioned to create jobs, create wealth and reduce poverty in the state.
He said that “Public-Private Partnership is a frame that we intend to use to accelerate development in our agricultural sector.
“It is a global model that other countries have used and if it has worked with other countries, we don’t see why it wouldn’t work in our state”, he said.
He also revealed that the state government is presently in dialogue with some prospective investors with the intention of coming to invest in Akwa Ibom.
Addressing stakeholders, Dr. Ekaette said the meeting is intended to bridge the gap between the state government and farmers, and that it is also aimed at identifying the challenges of farmers.
He also expressed the willingness of the government to partner with farmers by providing the right intervention that will help in increasing their level of production.
The Commissioner further disclosed that the government of Governor Udom is determined to end the importation of food and to make the state food sufficient.
He decried the importation of food such as garri, fufu, plantain from Cross River, saying that the state is rich in land and soil fertility for farmers to provide these foods that will sustain the people of the state without necessarily go anywhere to import food.
However, he encouraged the farmers to form more cooperatives or join the existing ones based on their kind of farming.
Emphasizing the need for cooperatives, Director of Agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture, Engr. Richard Ekpe revealed the government’s plan to deal with viable groups that can work together harmoniously.
Ekpe stressed that the government would only be reach out to the farmers through recognized farming cooperatives.
Our correspondent reports that, present at the meeting were major farming cooperatives in the state, such as All Farmers Association, Organized Farmers Support Network, Women Agro-Link Farmers Network, Poultry Association of Nigeria, Fishermen Cooperative Society Ltd, Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria, Awa Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperation Society, Emediong Fishing Cooperative Society, among others.
