GOV ENO BOOSTS OIL PALM PRODUCTION, EMPOWERS INI FARMERS WITH 5,000 IMPROVED SEEDLINGS

• Council Chairman Hails Governor’s Commitment to Rural Prosperity, Food Security

The Akwa Ibom State Government has intensified its drive to boost agricultural productivity with the distribution of 5,000 improved oil palm seedlings to farmers in Ini Local Government Area, as Governor Pastor Umo Eno continues to implement his administration’s agricultural transformation agenda.

The distribution, officially flagged off in the council area, is aimed at enhancing oil palm production, empowering rural farmers, creating employment opportunities, and stimulating economic growth in line with the Governor’s ARISE Agenda.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of Ini Local Government described the initiative as another demonstration of Governor Umo Eno’s unwavering commitment to rural development and sustainable economic empowerment.

He said the allocation of 5,000 improved oil palm seedlings to farmers in the area would not only increase agricultural productivity but also improve household incomes, strengthen food security, and expand opportunities across the agricultural value chain.

According to him, the programme underscores the Governor’s resolve to reposition agriculture as a key pillar of Akwa Ibom’s economic diversification strategy while equipping farmers with the resources needed to achieve higher yields and long-term prosperity.

“This initiative is a strategic investment in our people and our future. It reflects Governor Umo Eno’s vision of empowering rural communities through agriculture while laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth,” the Chairman stated.

Beneficiaries commended Governor Umo Eno for extending the agricultural empowerment programme to Ini Local Government, pledging to make productive use of the improved seedlings to increase oil palm cultivation and contribute to the state’s food production targets.

The improved seedlings are expected to significantly enhance oil palm yields, create jobs for youths and women, increase income for farming households, and strengthen Akwa Ibom’s agricultural value chain.

The distribution exercise is one of several interventions under Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda aimed at transforming agriculture into a major driver of economic development, wealth creation, and rural prosperity across Akwa Ibom State.