The Akwa Ibom State government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has commenced the distribution of agricultural inputs to public primary schools across the three senatorial districts in the state. The objective is to inculcate in public primary school pupils the passion for agriculture and stem the alarming inflation of food prices.
Speaking at St. Patrick Primary School, Iboko Offot, Uyo, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Offiong Offor, emphasised the role of primary education as the foundation of knowledge, adding that the education a child receives early in life provides a strong foundation that will help build a path for the pupil in life.
The commissioner urged head teachers of public primary schools to instil in their pupils a passion for agriculture, adding that they will, in the long run, contribute significantly to agricultural production in the nation, thereby averting possible food crisis.
He said, “We are here today to distribute agricultural inputs to pupils of St. Patrick Primary School because we believe that if children are given the right passion in agriculture they will grow with it.”
He advised heads of public primary schools to utilise school lands for farming purposes and to increase food production, as one of the ways to assuage the high cost of foods in the market.
The commissioner lauded Governor Umo Eno for facilitating the distribution, stating that a team from the ministry will monitor the progress of the farms in the benefiting schools, to reward the best performing schools in the state.
Commending the host school for providing a place for distribution, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Mary Bassey, expressed gratitude to teachers for grooming pupils with knowledge.
The Headteacher of St. Patrick’s Primary School, Iboko Offot, Uyo, Mrs. Ekaette Bassey, said the distribution of inputs to schools will contribute to increased food production, as well as revenue generation with a promise to put the inputs to good use.
In their separate goodwill messages, the representative of the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet, Permanent Secretary, Lady Rose Bassey, and representative of the Chairman of the State Universal Education Board, Rt. Hon. Anietie Etuk, Director of Schools Services, Mrs. Mandu Ekpenyong, among others lauded the governor’s proactive approach to addressing the current food challenges.
They reiterated the need to develop in the pupils an interest in agriculture so that they can acquire skills for self-employment and income generation. The event featured the symbolic presentation of improved varieties of cassava cuttings, pumpkin seeds, coconut seedlings, and maize seeds among others.
