Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Enugu State Government, on Thursday, distributed Agro inputs and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) grants worth N4.6 billion to registered farmers and traders in the state.
The inputs distributed to farmers include rice and bean seedlings, cassava stems, organic and chemical fertilisers, herbicides, among others.
Flagging off the distribution, Gov. Peter Mbah said the programme was to enhance food security, agro-industrialisation, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) development in Enugu.
He said that it was imperative to nurture small scale entrepreneurs for sustainable growth through the provision of the key enablers since they remain the lifeblood of economic development.
According to him, 12,000 Small-holder farmers will each receive one bag of fertiliser, which the Federal Government had graciously donated to all states.
“In addition, we will be giving out 51 power tillers worth N2m each to farmers from across farming clusters in Enugu State.
“We are also flagging off today the distribution of agricultural inputs to 1,251 beneficiaries across the 17 local government areas,” he said.
The governor added that his administration would be carrying out an extensive revamp of a number of rural roads to facilitate a better road network and ensure that the farming clusters springing up across the rural belt of the state do not exist as isolated units.
“The support to MSMEs is at N1bn with women-owned enterprises getting 80 per cent of the entire sum.
“The value of our entrepreneurship intervention programme being flagged off today is N1bn. This includes the disbursement of N60,000 to over 16,000 beneficiaries.
“This mostly comprising owners of nano-enterprises on a ratio of 80:20 in favour of women.
“We recognise that much of the brunt of poverty is borne by women. That explains the extra efforts we put into expanding opportunities for the girl-child and women, especially in our rural communities,” he said.
Mbah stressed that under their MSMEs intervention, they would be disbursing N400,000 to 187 beneficiaries.
“Other initiatives in this regard for flag-off include N7.5 million each to 10 tech startups, operational grant for solar equipment to 256 beneficiaries, while items, including laptop computers and POS terminals, will be given out to 269 beneficiaries,” he stated.
The governor explained that the inputs and supports given to beneficiaries would sufficiently boost economic activities in their various localities and create positive ripple effects on the state’s economy.
Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Patrick Ubru, urged the farmers and other beneficiaries to reciprocate government’s massive support through prudent application of the inputs and grants to create jobs.
The Acting Project Coordinator, FADAMA, Mr Geofrey Eze, explained that casava stems being distributed were improved stems that would withstand harsh weather, diseases and high yielding variety that would lead to bumper harvest.
“In today’s distribution we are in charge of power tillers and casava stems to benefitting farmers,” he said.
Mr Romanus Eze, the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Enugu State Chapter, assured the governor that the farmers and other beneficiaries would not disappoint the government.
“We have never had it so good. Therefore, we will not disappoint you. We promise you concrete results, for whom much is given, much is also expected,” he said.
