Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
A special species of cassava stems rich in Vitamin A have been shared to farmers in Egi Town, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of Rivers State by an oil company operating in the area, Total E&P Nigeria Ltd, Port Harcourt District.
The company, which operates OML 58, in Obite, Egi Town, shared the cassava stems, which are also of a yield breed, to the over four hundred farmers at Obite Civic Centre, Obite, yesterday (Tuesday, 9th July 2019).
Speaking at the event, the manager, Mr Patrick Idoko, said he was privileged to champion the programme on behalf of the DGM, adding that he believes in farming.
He advised the farmers to make good use of the cassava stems while calling on Egi people to continue to remain peaceful in order to keep attracting development to their land.
Earlier in his address, the DGM, Community Affairs and Development, Total E&P Nigeria Ltd, Port Harcourt District, Mr James Urho, represented by the manager, Mr Patrick Idoko, said the programme was part of the business and enterprise development for farmers in the company’s OML 58 operational area.
“We are here today to continue in our desire to challenge ourselves to the positive reinforcement of our commitments on the sustainability of agricultural programmes. Today’s ceremony is symbolic because we are going to officially handover the improved cassava stem to 400 host community selected farmers from the 16 Egi communities to plant and nurture them to maturity. We have the plan to introduce a full integrated cassava processing chain for the good people of Egi.
“The decision by Total E&P Nigeria Ltd to introduce this improved stem to farmers is to boost agricultural development as a viable and profitable business. This new stem has several advantages over the traditional cassava stem currently used by farmers in Nigeria due to its super yield.
“In introducing this scheme, we are building on the various programs in agriculture extension services, including the provision of improved stems, fish farming, snail farming, maggot farming, feed production etc in OML 58. We see the need to continue to enhance the agricultural potentials of this area as key to the food security of the area and the state at large,” he said.
In his goodwill message, His Royal Highness, Eze Charles Okikeih, Eze Ogwe 1of Egi, thanked Total E&P Nigeria Ltd for its kind gesture to the farmers and charged the people of the area to reciprocate by remaining peaceful, accommodating and progressive-minded, while urging the farmers to make good use of the cassava stems.
Mr Eze Ejah, the Community Development Committee chairman of Ogbogu Community, commended Total E&P Nigeria Ltd for distributing the cassava stems to the farmers, adding that they will continue to cherish the gesture while expressing hope that it continues.
One of the farmers, Mrs Edith Jonah, expressed gratitude to Total E&P Nigeria Ltd for the gift and promised to plant it without delay.
Another farmer, John Okey, said the cassava stems distribution is the beginning of better things to come for the Egi farmers and thanked Total E&P Nigeria Ltd for the vision to support them in fighting hunger. He thanked the company and urged them to sustain it.
