Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has described farming as a veritable leeway to prosperity, urging Cross Riverians, especially women, to go into farming.
The governor spoke in Calabar at the flag off of inputs distribution to farmers as part of mitigation measures against the COVID-19 pandemic. At the event was also the Minister for Agriculture, Sabo Nanono.
According to Ayade, his administration’s commitment to agriculture was the reason farmers in the state enjoy five percent interest loan.
“Let me use this opportunity to say it very loud and clear that the future prosperity lies with farmers. If you don’t have a farm, you have no business in the 21st century.
“The post-COVID-19 pandemic has become very clear that only farmers have the capacity to survive even if all the doors are closed and so, I challenge everyone to own a farm and show me that your farm is working,” he said.
He urged the minister to increase fund set aside by the Federal Government for women farmers to encourage them.
Earlier, Nanono disclosed that his ministry was working to ensure Nigeria become self-sufficient in food production.
He said: “This gathering is one of our efforts to work hand-in-hand with state governments and other relevant stakeholders to assist in ensuring food security, economic growth and job creation, especially in the face of COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is my pleasure to be here with you today to roll out the distribution of agricultural inputs to smallholder farmers to reduce the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on agricultural production in Nigeria and avert food scarcity in 2021.”