The Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Chukwuemeka Woke, recently distributed a grant of N150 million to over 300 farmers in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State.
According to report, the awardees were benefits of the Renewed Hope Back to Farm Support Initiative which is aimed to towards empowering small-scale farmers and boosting food security and empower small-scale farmers.
Speaking at the distribution event in Isiodo community on Sunday, Woke stated that the financial support would help farmers rent land, purchase staple crops, and cover land clearing and weeding costs.
He revealed in a statement that; “The goal is to empower these farmers so that by December, they can harvest their produce, especially cassava, and process it into garri, which they can sell and make hundreds of thousands of naira”.
He noted that many local farmers struggle to afford farmland preparation costs, making such initiatives crucial for sustainability and the grant is aimed to support and see them through this.
“The true essence of empowerment is supporting people for survival and long-term sustainability. This initiative is expected to positively impact beneficiaries and strengthen food security in the state,” he added.
He further emphasized that the Renewed Hope Back to Farm Support Initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s Back to Farm initiative.