Delta State Government embraced AADS as a crucial step towards ensuring food security, sufficiency, and generating employment opportunities for its youth population.
The Delta State Government has embraced the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS) as a crucial step towards ensuring food security, sufficiency, and generating employment opportunities for its youth population.
Mr. Perez Omoun, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, affirmed this commitment during an unannounced visit to the Mbiri Farm Settlement in Ika North East Local Government Area. His objective was to inspect the progress of ongoing projects.
The commissioner scrutinized a newly installed water borehole project that supports the greenhouse initiative. Additionally, he assessed the construction of hostels for the greenhouse participants (allottees) and another borehole project designated for aquaculture at the farm settlement.
Omoun disclosed that planting within the greenhouses would commence at the end of October, with the first harvest anticipated in January 2024. He underscored that the greenhouses had already been allocated to achieve the envisioned goals.
Temporary accommodation arrangements have been made for the allottees while construction work on the hostels is underway. Omoun emphasized the governor’s unwavering commitment to agriculture and food production. He highlighted that over 30 youths have been allotted individual greenhouses at the Mbiri farm settlement, a strategic move towards bolstering food security, creating employment, and fostering wealth generation within the state.
“With the completion of the borehole, it will enable free flow of water supply for all year round food production,” stated Omoun, addressing the significance of solving the water supply issue.
He emphasized that the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme aligns with Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E Agenda, which champions equal opportunities for all. Omoun asserted that engaging youths in agriculture would lead to sustained peace and security within the state.
“This is my third visit to this Mbiri farm settlement since I became commissioner. It is an all-important initiative. The first borehole has been developed to provide water for the greenhouses. Another borehole is designated to supply water for the aquaculture that will be developed on the other side of the farm settlement. There is a hostel for the participants who will be allotted the greenhouses, and those engaged in farming at the settlement will be accommodated as well. Delta will contribute significantly to food security, lifting people out of poverty, creating jobs, and providing opportunities for all, even as we begin to export food produced from Mbiri farm settlement,” stated the commissioner.
He further emphasized that the land area at the farm settlement is fertile and can be utilized for a variety of agricultural purposes.