Akwa Ibom's Agriculture Commissioner Drives Economic Growth

Dr Offiong Offor, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Agriculture, stated that the state government is shifting agriculture from subsistence farming to a significant contributor to food security, employment, and wealth creation. During a press interaction in Uyo, she highlighted Governor Umo Eno’s administration's interventions, which include leveraging donor-supported programs to enhance agricultural production and farmer livelihoods.

Offor emphasized the importance of sustained government investment in agriculture, given the state's agrarian population. She discussed initiatives such as the Back to Farm and Home Farm programs, aimed at encouraging households to grow food crops for consumption and income.

The government has established an Equipment Leasing Company offering tractors at a 50% subsidy to farmers. Additionally, the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, supported by the World Bank, aims to improve rural roads, with 486 roads earmarked across 31 local government areas.

Offor also mentioned the Food Systems Resilience Programme and AK-CARES, which have provided support to over 16,000 beneficiaries.