From Owen Akenzua, Asaba
Delta State government is to partner Green Revolution Farmers Feed the Nation Foundation, GRFFNF, to ensure food security and job creation.
Commissioners for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Val Arenyeka and his counterpart in Trade and Investment, Mr Samuel Oligida gave the assurance when the group paid them a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Asaba.
The commissioners said the foundation’s vision was in tandem with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s ‘M.O.R.E. Agenda’ to create opportunity for all and ensure food security and jobs for youths, women and persons living with disabilities.
According to Arenyeka, the foundation will provide answer to the current hunger in the country given its recorded achievements targeted at agriculture and food production in the country.
“Your foundation has achieved so much in a short while, I want to assure you that the state would partner you to achieve food security.
“As a state, we encourage everybody to own a small farm and it is only then that we can achieve food security.”
He added that the ministry would open up 2,000 hectares and create clusters for famers to cultivate, even as he assured that members of the foundation would be carried along.
On his part, the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Oligida urged the foundation to key into the state government’s programmes by properly aligning with the ministry.
He said the ministry would ensure that the foundation gets the needed funding and marketing support to revolutionalise agriculture in the state.
He assured that the ministry would support the foundation, adding that hunger knows no boundary.
Earlier, National President of the foundation, Jonathan Okwudiri said the visit was to familiarise GRFFNF with the state government and explore possible ways of collaboration and partnership.
He said the foundation, a duly registered corporate association with presence in the 774 local government areas, has over 700,000 members across the country.
While commending Governor Oborevwori’s laudable intervention in agriculture and industry, he appealed for support in the areas of land development, capacity building, access to market, credit facilities, farming equipment, fertilisers and extension services.
