In a move to promote sustainable agriculture, the member representing Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo (Ph.D), has awarded certificates of participation and disbursed a N10 million grant to 100 farmers from Ikono and Ini Local Government Areas. The initiative was part of a 4-day capacity-building program on entrepreneurship development and improved agricultural practices, held at Methodist Primary School, Nung Ukim, Ikono.
The program, which concluded on Friday, September 20, 2024, attracted participants from across the 21 wards of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency. It was organized in collaboration with the Industrial Arbitration Panel, a Federal Government agency, and aimed at equipping traditional farmers with modern techniques for sustainable farming.
In his address, Rep. Ukpong-Udo thanked the Federal Government for the initiative and expressed his appreciation to his constituents for their continued trust in his leadership. He reiterated his commitment to advocating for development projects that would uplift the people of Ikono and Ini. While presenting the agricultural grants, the lawmaker urged the beneficiaries to make efficient use of the funds, warning against misuse or diversion.
The training, titled “Temperature as an Agro-Climatic Condition for Improving Crop Yields in Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency,” focused on cash crops that thrive in the local climate, including groundnuts, cereals, sodium, cocoa, cucumber, tomatoes, and garden eggs. Experts, led by keynote speaker Mr. A. A. Ferdinand, highlighted sustainable agricultural practices such as the use of organic manure over inorganic fertilizers, maximizing farm sunlight, and traditional pest control methods instead of chemical alternatives.
Participants expressed their gratitude to Rep. Ukpong-Udo for organizing the program, noting that the knowledge gained would significantly boost their transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture. They pledged to apply the training in their farming practices and to maximize the grant for long-term benefits.
The event marks another milestone in Rep. Ukpong-Udo’s efforts to empower his constituency through innovative solutions aimed at fostering self-reliance and economic growth.
