FIC Report (Edo State) – No fewer than 370 farmers in seven clusters across Edo State have gained from the distribution of over 370,000 fingerlings under the state government’s agripreneurial programme, as part of deliberate policies by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration towards wealth creation and food security.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security Programme, Prince Joe Okojie, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, said the farmers are clustered in different locations in the state, including Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha and Egor local government areas.
He noted that the Obaseki-led government has made meaningful progress in building the capacity of farmers to contribute efficiently to the state’s economy.
Okojie said some of the fish farmers, who were grouped in clusters, received as much 100, 000 fingerlings, noting that some of these clusters include the Agricultural Development Agency (ADP) catfish farm for Libya Returnees, 100,000; Ute, 70,000; Temboga, 100,000, and the Iyekoyi fish farm, 100,000, among others.
Highlighting some projects for the fish farmers, Okojie said: “Over 100 Fish ponds (Tarpaulin vats) have been constructed including other production infrastructure and equipment such as water boreholes, electrical generators for 50,000 catfish production enterprise with 70mt (fresh weight) of fish expected”
One of the beneficiaries and leader of one of the clusters, Francis Osayi, said the state government supplied 100,000 fingerlings and other forms of support to 24 farmers who are members of his cluster, adding, “I have been in this business for years and this is the first time I am experiencing this kind of initiative by a government”. “This is laudable”, he remarked.
Daniel E. Ejodamen
(FIC, Benin City).
