The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Agricultural Support Programme is set to benefit 320 farmers and 30 schools across the three senatorial districts of Cross River State.
The wife of the state governor and coordinator of the programme in the state, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, revealed this while addressing the media in Calabar on Wednesday.
Represented by her Chief Press Secretary, Faith Okon, she stated that the initiative is designed to promote sustainable agricultural practices and strengthen food security.
She explained that the programme focuses on four key initiatives—the Cross River Women Agricultural Support Programme, the Youth Agricultural Support Programme, the Every Home a Garden Initiative, and the Young Farmers Club.
However, these initiatives will equip women and young farmers with essential resources to expand their agricultural ventures while contributing to local and national food production.
According to her, all states have been empowered to train and support women farmers, assist young farmers, encourage home gardening, and revitalize the Young Farmers Club.
In Cross River State, 200 women—one from each ward—will be trained and supported in crop production, fishery, or poultry farming.
Fish farmers will receive 200 fingerlings, one fiber tank, two bags of feed, and medications.
Poultry farmers will get 50-day-old chicks, two bags of starter and finisher feed each, while crop farmers will be provided with improved maize seeds, okra, pumpkin seeds, organic fertilizer, and watering cans.
The Youth Agricultural Support Programme targets young farmers, equipping them with skills in fishery, poultry production, baking, and groundnut extraction. A total of 60 participants, with at least three drawn from each local government area, will benefit.
Those trained in fishery will receive 200 fingerlings, one fiber tank, two bags of feed, and medications.
Poultry beneficiaries will receive 50-day-old chicks, two bags of starter and finisher feed each, while baking trainees will be empowered with necessary equipment and resources.
The Every Home a Garden Initiative is designed to encourage home food production and enhance food security.
Sixty households across the state will be selected to participate, receiving awareness training and resources such as improved maize, okra, and pumpkin seeds, organic fertilizer, watering cans, knapsack sprayers, and spades.
Furthermore, Bishop Otu emphasized that the programme is a holistic approach to boosting agricultural productivity while ensuring food sustainability in Cross River State and beyond.