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Encourages
the training and development of middle-level manpower
for agriculture through supporting the Akwa Ibom State
College of Agriculture at Obio Akpa;
-
Enables
the training and financial empowerment of unemployed
graduates of our secondary and tertiary institutions of
learning to take up agriculture as a rewarding and
satisfying business under the Integrated Farmers Scheme;
-
Uses
the electronic and print media to re-orientate our
farmers, the general public and other stakeholders in
agriculture to adopt better concepts and attitudes about
investments in agriculture;
-
Seeks
the expansion of credit support to our farmers and
fisher folk by providing liaison and technical support
for the Agricultural Loans Board and the
Inter-Ministerial Micro-Credit Scheme;
-
Collaborates
with farmers’ groups in seeking improved marketing
outlets for their produce/products;
-
Maintenance
of an Agricultural Databank for planning and investment
purposes;
-
Maintenance
of Agricultural Library for the benefit of the
Ministry’s staff, researchers and the
general public;
-
Coordinates
and cooperates in inter-governmental matters as they
affect agriculture.
Outline of the
Strategies and Programmes
(a) This may be summarized
as follows:
i. Facilitation of expanded
production and improved marketing for
the major cash crops:
oil palms, cocoa and rubber
ii. Institutional,
infrastructural and input supports for the increased
production of cassava for both local consumption and
export
purposes.
iii.
Support to improved and increased cultivation of rice
iv. Boosting
of small ruminant, pig and poultry production
v. The development of coastal and
marine fishing; skills training
and
input supports to fishermen
v1. Encouragement and facilitation of
agro-processing
vii. Expansion of credit
facilities to farmers
viii.
Enhancement of extension services delivery
ix. The training and empowerment
of youths to take up agriculture as a
profession – the Integrated Farmer Scheme, Life
Enhancement
Programme, etc.
x. The training of public
and civil service personnel at various
agricultural institutions, organization of workshops and
seminars
from time to time.
xi. The development of the
State College of Agriculture at Obio Akpa to
facilitate
technological level manpower training for agriculture
xii. Subsidy on farming inputs:
fertilizers, seedlings, agro-chemicals etc.
xiii. Campaigns in the
electronic and print media, to re-orientate
government officials, the general public and all
stakeholders in
agriculture to better concepts and attitudes about the
need
for timeliness and larger
investment or capital outlays for agriculture.
(b) If the basic Strategies and Programmes listed
above are effectively supported and funded for
Implementation, agricultural production will greatly
improve. Farming should then attract the younger and
better-educated fractions of the population and bring
about abundant supplies of cheaper and qualitative food
supplies, while yielding higher incomes for farmers,
processors and marketers in the system. Let us therefore
join hands to work for agricultural development and
production, whether in livestock rearing, crop
production, fishing (including aquaculture), processing
and marketing.
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING,
RESEARCH AND STATISTICS
This Department handles
programme and project planning. It conducts
research-oriented investigations to ascertain facts and
build up useful data to aid the Ministry make correct
and realistic decisions on projects and strategies of
implementation. The Department monitors, analyses and
evaluates projects for approvals. The Department has a
well-equipped library and facilities for updating our
agro-data bank.
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