The Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Eyoanwan Otu, has finalized plans to empower women and young farmers through the Renewed Hope Initiative Agriculture Support Programme.
This initiative aims to promote sustainable farming practices and enhance food security across the nation.
Speaking at a briefing in Calabar, the Chief Press Secretary to Mrs. Otu, Faith Okon-Egbujiem, highlighted that the program would provide beneficiaries with resources and training to expand their agricultural ventures, contributing to both local and national food production.
According to Okon-Egbujiem, the Renewed Hope Initiative, spearheaded by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is dedicated to supporting women and young farmers as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the agricultural sector.
The program features four key initiatives:
- Women Agricultural Support Programme
- Youth Agricultural Support Programme
- Every Home a Garden
- Young Farmers Club
Cross River State has been designated to implement training programs for women farmers, encourage youth participation in agriculture, and promote home gardening to improve household nutrition and food security.
A total of 320 participants across the state will receive support based on their chosen area of farming, including crop production, fishery, poultry, baking, and confectionery. Additionally, 30 schools will benefit from the Young Farmers Club initiative to introduce students to agriculture.
Breakdown of Support for Beneficiaries:
- Fishery: 200 juveniles, fiber tanks, feeds, and medications.
- Poultry: 50 day-old chicks, starter feeds, and finisher feeds.
- Crop Farming & Home Gardening: Improved maize seeds, okra, pumpkin seeds, organic fertilizer, watering cans, and herbicides.
Speaking on the program’s objectives, Okon-Egbujiem explained that the initiative seeks to equip farmers with better skills, enhance local food production, and encourage home-based farming to boost food security and economic empowerment.
To ensure effective implementation, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Cross River State Government, and the State Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development are leading the project in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady.
During the briefing, Comfort Oko, Senior Special Adviser on Administration to the Governor’s Wife, disclosed that N68.9 million had been allocated to the coordinating Ministry of Agriculture for the program’s execution. She emphasized that participants were selected based on their prior knowledge and experience in the agricultural value chain.
Asim Eta Asim, State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, added that seasoned agricultural experts would train participants on improving productivity and value addition. Meanwhile, Kenneth Anam, Special Assistant on New Media and Communication, assured that more schools would be integrated into the Young Farmers Club over time.
With this initiative, the Cross River First Lady is taking a significant step toward empowering women and youth in agriculture, reinforcing the state’s commitment to food security and sustainable economic growth.
