Food Crisis: Akwa Ibom Assembly Backs Climate-smart Agric Scheme

Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has thrown its weight behind the new agricultural revolution through the climate-smart agriculture project aimed at addressing acute food challenges in the country.

The chairman of the Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, Hon. Moses Essien, has therefore, commended a climate-smart agriculture initiative by an indigenous non-governmental organisation in partnership with a thriving farming firm in the State towards enhancing the scheme.
The NGO – Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), according to the lawmaker, has been working with other partners including Aviclaire Farms (AF) in ensuring food security through a “transformative intervention”, noting that it would go a long way towards complementing the State government’s drive against malnutrition while ensuring food insecurity.

The Ibiono Ibom representative, who made the advocacy during an oversight visit by his Committee to the firm’s demonstration farm at Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh, in Abak local government area, noted that the initiative was “a practical model of climate-smart agriculture capable of generating employment, improving nutrition outcomes, and strengthening food sufficiency in the state.”

He commended the strides recorded by the agric firm, which he pointed out, has already created jobs for over 2,000 youths, thus contributing meaningfully to poverty reduction and economic inclusion.

The initiative, he noted, “aligns with the open-door development policy of Governor Umo Eno, which encourages partnerships with credible private organisations and development agencies to complement government efforts in critical sectors.”

Lawmaker Essien observed that “although ECEWS is widely recognised for its interventions in health and education, its expansion into agriculture and nutrition represents a strategic boost to the ARISE Agenda blueprint of the present administration of Governor Eno, in the State.”

He lauded the greenhouse technology deployed by Aviclaire Farms, noting that year-round cultivation of crops such as pepper and tomatoes would significantly enhance food availability and dietary quality in families.

He urged residents of Akwa Ibom to embrace modern and technology-driven agriculture, maintaining that “despite the oil boom era in the country, agriculture still remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy.”

Responding, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted members of the committee round the farm, explained that the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring continuous food production and local availability.

He disclosed that the farm commenced operations with four greenhouses and has expanded to 14 within two years, supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

Eyo further revealed that produce worth approximately ₦19 million was realised within the first five months of operations, underscoring the commercial potential of greenhouse farming.

He added that the organisation is exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, described the operations of the farm to include demonstration, and training hub focusing on innovation, education, and community engagement.

She stated that “the controlled-environment greenhouses ensure precision cultivation and consistent yields while serving as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and those in agric business.”

Also speaking, the Technical Director and Regional Sales Manager of Dizengoff Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka, explained the company provides technical support for greenhouse installation and management to optimise productivity.

He described the system as “technology-driven brain-fed agriculture that regulates sunlight intensity and creates ideal growth conditions for crops.”

However, Essien stressed that the oversight visit was part of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security’s mandate to promote investments and partnerships that enhance nutrition and food security across the state.