Each farmer receives ₦200,000 starter pack to enhance rice cultivation in the Niger Delta.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has provided financial support to 300 rice farmers across the region. Each beneficiary received a starter pack valued at ₦200,000 to improve rice production. This initiative aims to enhance food security, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has taken a significant step to boost rice production in the region by providing financial assistance to 300 rice farmers. Each farmer received a starter pack worth ₦200,000 during the closing ceremony of the second batch of the NDDC-sponsored training programme for rice farmers.
Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of NDDC, represented by the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Winifred Madume, highlighted the commission’s commitment to transforming the agricultural sector in the Niger Delta. He stated that the programme aims to equip farmers with essential skills in modern rice farming techniques, processing, and agribusiness strategies.
“The scheme is designed to enable farmers to enhance rice production, establish cooperatives, and explore further partnerships with relevant agencies and financial institutions,” Ogbuku explained.
The training encompassed both theoretical and practical aspects of rice production, processing, and entrepreneurship. Mr. Wale Oretan, Deputy Director of Agriculture and Fisheries at NDDC, noted that participants from Abia and other states in the region benefited from the programme.
He urged the beneficiaries to apply the knowledge gained to improve their businesses and increase rice production across the nine Niger Delta states.
Mrs. Uzoma Ochulo, President of the Abia Rice Farmers Association, expressed gratitude on behalf of the beneficiaries. She emphasised that the farmers would share their newly acquired knowledge with others in their communities to further boost rice production in the region.
This initiative aligns with NDDC’s ongoing efforts to implement impactful agricultural empowerment programmes aimed at enhancing food security, creating jobs, and alleviating poverty in the Niger Delta.
