The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has provided financial support to 300 rice farmers in the Niger Delta, offering each a starter pack worth N200,000 to enhance rice production.
The Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, announced this in a statement on Saturday in Port Harcourt, issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
The starter packs were presented to the beneficiaries during the closing ceremony of the second batch of the NDDC-sponsored training programme for rice farmers.
Dr. Ogbuku, represented by the NDDC’s Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Winifred Madume, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to transforming the agricultural sector in the region.
According to him, the programme aimed to equip farmers with essential skills in modern rice farming techniques, processing, and agribusiness strategies.
“The scheme is designed to empower farmers to enhance rice production, establish cooperatives, and explore further partnerships with relevant agencies and financial institutions,” he stated.
Ogbuku also highlighted the NDDC’s ongoing collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to provide apprenticeship training for farmers in the Niger Delta.
“We remain committed to implementing impactful agricultural empowerment initiatives to enhance food security, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in the region,” he added.
Mr. Wale Oretan, the Deputy Director of Agriculture and Fisheries at the NDDC, noted that 300 farmers from Abia and other states in the region participated in the training.
He explained that the training covered both theoretical and practical aspects of rice production, processing, and entrepreneurship.
“Each participant received a starter pack worth N200,000 along with a certificate of completion,” Oretan stated.
He urged the beneficiaries to apply the knowledge gained from the training to improve their businesses and boost rice production across the nine Niger Delta states.
The President of the Abia Rice Farmers Association, Mrs. Uzoma Ochulo, expressed gratitude to the NDDC on behalf of the beneficiaries.
Ochulo said the beneficiaries would share their knowledge with other farmers in their communities to increase rice production in the Niger Delta.
