AKWA IBOM INTERGRATED FARMERS’S SCHEME

Akwa Ibom Integrated Farmers’ Scheme (IFS) established in 1997 is one of the Micro-Credited Schemes of the State Government. The objectives of the scheme, which targets the young, jobless and energetic school leavers, are to:

1. Reduce unemployment

2. Strengthen the farm work force by encouraging youths to take up farming and replace aging parents.

3. Encourage and demonstrate farming as a business.

4. Increase food production in the state.

 Strategies:

1. Identifying young and dynamic school leavers who are interested in making a career in farming and training them to execute viable agro-enterprises.

2. Disbursing loans both in cash and kind funds to participants to enable them embark on profitable farm projects.

3. Guiding and supervising the participants at the field level so that they execute their projects well and pay back the loans. This is to enable the funds be recycled through the system for the recruitment and settlement of new batches of participants.

The State Government is funding the scheme alone presently, whereas the Local Government Councils are expected to be involved. In any case, the Local Government is to assist with land allocation to the participants for crop based projects, especially. The projects selected so far include: piggery, poultry, dry season vegetables, Teleferia, cowpea production pineapple, plantain/banana production and fisheries. The scheme had in 1998 successfully selected 151 out of the 184 participants trained in its first effort. Recently a new set of 310-second batch participants have completed training and are awaiting funds allocation.

TYPES OF INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE UNDER THE SCHEME

  The following are investment opportunities under the scheme:

                        i.   Large scale purchase of farm products such as pineapples          

                              plantains,  bananas, pigs, eggs for marketing.

AKWA IBOM AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

The overall objective of Akwa Ibom Agricultural Development Programme is to increase food production and the income of small-scale farmers. The Programme also undertakes an assessment of the levels of farmers' awareness, adoption and utilization of project initiatives and services, as presently offered in new technology packages. Adaptive research is conducted, and approved technologies are tested for adoption at the farmer’ fields and socio-cultural settings.

AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION/FARMERS EDUCATION DIVISION

The Agricultural information Division is charged with the responsibility of information dissemination, farmers’ mobilization, sensitization and education. The agricultural policies and programmes of government are publicized and interpreted to public by this division.

Akwa Ibom State Government has been able to boost and articulate its agricultural information, farmers’ education and agricultural resource survey/programmes by the effective mobilization of the division. The strategies and channels utilized by the division include:

1. The mass media: radio, television, newspaper

2. Street announcements/enlightenment campaigns

3. Posters, bulletins, farmers’ guides, farming Calendar, bill boards, etc

4. Film production, film shows, photography

5. Farmer’ capacity building through workshops, seminars etc

6. Provision of public address services and other liaison help to other departments, units and the parastatals.

Farmers and the general public are encouraged and invited to call at Agric information Division for technical information and supply of publications.

Areas of Investment Opportunities:

Food Production:

• Commercial production of rice, cassava plantain/banana, ginger and vegetables

• Processing and packaging of food crops