By Henshaw NYONG, Uyo.
INTERESTED farmers in Akwa Ibom State have been urged to take advantage of the millions of tomato and other cash crop seedlings grown at the various demonstration farms across the state under the Akwa Ibom Enterprise and Employment Scheme (AKEES).
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical Matters and Due Process, Elder Ufot Ebong gave the invitation when the Special Assistant to the Governor, Media, Mr Aniekeme Finbarr led a team of journalists around a few of the demonstration farms to see the progress made by the scheme in the areas of cash crop cultivation.
Elder Ebong who said several farmers were already keying into the lucrative venture encouraged others who had land to plant the seeds to visit the AKEES secretariat and or any of the demonstration farms nearest to them to get the seeds.
He led the journalists through several beds of cash crops including African egg plant, European egg plant, chilli green pepper, bell pepper, hot pepper, cabbage, onions, cucumber and water melon.
The predominant cash crop was tomato. The main species seen were the tholga tomato, roma red tomato, cobra tomato and lindo tomato. The cabbage species included the purple and green species.
Speaking to journalists at one of the demonstration farms at the Osongama area of Uyo, Elder Ufot Ebong urged everyone to key into the State Government's programmes at boosting food sufficiency and the spirit of enterprise. He noted that the seedlings available at the Osongama farm alone has tomato seedlings that can plant up to 200 hectares and each tomato stand can bear up to 60 fruits, which is a big basket full.
"In a little while, these cash crops especially tomatoes will be flooded in the markets. These are crops we thought could be cultivated here. I tell you also that what we are doing has a long value chain. Those we have trained under the scheme and in turn training others to cultivate these crops. From the man and women working on the farms to the marketers, people are getting engaged and added value to themselves and society" he added.
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