The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has provided financial support to 300 rice farmers across the Niger Delta, each receiving starter packs worth N200,000 to enhance rice production.
This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
The support was presented to the beneficiaries during the closing ceremony of the second batch of the NDDC-sponsored rice farmers training programme.
Commitment to Agricultural Development.
Ogbuku, represented by the NDDC’s Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Winifred Madume, reiterated the commission’s dedication to transforming the agricultural sector in the region.
“This programme equips farmers with modern rice farming techniques, processing skills, and agribusiness strategies to enhance production and encourage cooperative formation,” he stated.
He also highlighted NDDC’s ongoing partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to provide apprenticeship training for farmers in the Niger Delta.
Boosting Food Security and Job Creation.
“We remain committed to impactful agricultural empowerment initiatives aimed at enhancing food security, creating jobs, and reducing poverty in the region,” Ogbuku added.
The Deputy Director of Agriculture and Fisheries at NDDC, Mr. Wale Oretan, noted that 300 farmers from Abia and other states in the region participated in the training, which covered both theoretical and practical aspects of rice farming, processing, and entrepreneurship.
Each participant received a starter pack worth N200,000 along with a certificate of completion.
Farmers Express Gratitude
The President of the Abia Rice Farmers Association, Mrs. Uzoma Ochulo, expressed appreciation on behalf of the beneficiaries, assuring that they would apply the knowledge gained to increase rice production in the Niger Delta.
She further stated that the beneficiaries would share their knowledge with other farmers in their communities to maximize the impact of the programme.
