Uyo: The Akwa Ibom House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture. Mr. Moses Essien, the Chairman, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area. Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the assembly, commended the farm management for partnering with an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture. He praised the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, noting that such moves would promote food security.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the lawmaker emphasized that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture models would help generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency. He expressed his satisfaction with the progress made by the partners, stating, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.” Essien also encouraged Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee around the farm, explained that the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency. Eyo highlighted that the farm, which began operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighboring communities. He added that ECEWS was 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 of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, pointed out that the controlled environment at the farm ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields. She further mentioned that the farm served as a capacity-building center for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.