By Funmilayo Ikueduranni
Ondo State Government has commended the Federal Government on the implementation of the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus [NG-CARES] as more farmers and jobless persons get empowered through production equipment.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Olayato Aribo gave this commendation at the free distribution of full complement of barbecue equipment to 50 jobless persons in the State who have been trained in the art of barbecue by the Project.
The Commissioner in his words ‘this is a point of contact to many meaningful interventions the NG-CARES programme has made through Fadama III Project in the State in the past few weeks’.
He explained that the objective of the NG-CARES Programme is to alleviate poverty through promotion of food security. He said the only way we can achieve this is to ensure that the poor farmers benefit from the programme and not that we the implementers should benefit personally. He revealed further that this year alone Fadama III Project is going to spend more than N200million on distribution of inputs to farmers and N200million on distribution of assets and that 24 rural access roads have been earmarked for rehabilitation across the State.
Mr. Aribo urged the beneficiaries to ensure that they use the equipment to turn around their fortunes by making productive use of the items.
The Commissioner however appreciated the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ondo State Government under Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for their support and for creating the enabling atmosphere for the Programme to achieve this level of success in the State.
In his corroboration, the Fadama III Project Coordinator, Mr. Olusiji Olatunji made known that about 5,000 farmers will be reached before the year runs out.
Olatunji in his words “the Programme has three Disbursement Link Indicators which involves inputs/services, improved agricultural infrastructures and agricultural production assets. For some weeks now we have been distributing both inputs and production assets to our farmers, today, we have specifically invited Mr. Commissioner here to be part of the giant stride the Project is making in the Result Area 2 of the NG-CARES.’’
According to him “ these youths were targeted due to the level of their vulnerability and potential risk they may pose to the society if left unattended to’’ He stated further “we have trained them in the business of making barbecue with fish. They are all experts, infact after the training they are all eager to start the business’’
Each of the beneficiaries received a barbecue stand, pot, fry pan, cutting board, gas cylinder, manual blender, flat knife, a roll of foil paper, a bag of charcoal and cash gift of N10,000 to start off.
A beneficiary, Mr. Ehinmisan Daniel on behalf of others affirmed that the gesture would finally push them out of loitering and other unproductive ventures they were used to.
Funmilayo Ikueduranni is a Communication Specialist, Fadama III Project.
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