By Fatima Muraina

The Ondo State Fadama Coordinating Office has distributed fishing inputs valued at over N26 million to fish farmers in Abereke, a community in Ilaje Local Government Area.

The distribution, which took place on Saturday, December 28, 2024, included crayfish nets in sizes 1/9 and 1/6, as well as chains, among other items, as part of the government’s efforts to bolster food security and support less-privileged farmers.

Speaking at the event, Mr Olusiji Olatunji, the State Coordinator of Fadama, described the initiative as a strategic intervention for improving the livelihood of farmers in the area.

He noted that the distribution was a continuation of similar programmes implemented in other local governments across the state.

“We are distributing nets for fishing crayfish to farmers. As I said earlier, the programme is being funded by the state government, and the state government released funds when due for the programme,” Olatunji stated.

He explained that the Abereke community had fulfilled all necessary requirements to benefit from the programme, with the distributed inputs expected to enhance crayfish production in the area.

Olatunji further urged the beneficiaries to use the items judiciously and consider forming cooperative groups to strengthen their revenue generation efforts.

Highlighting previous beneficiaries of Fadama programmes, Olatunji mentioned riverine areas such as Lepe, Idi Agba, Aiyeyoro, and Mahin, where fishing boats, outboard engines, and other equipment were also provided at no cost.

Olatunji clarified that beneficiaries were selected from a pool of registered farmers who had undergone profiling and documentation, while unregistered farmers would be accommodated in the second phase of the programme.

Prince Taiwo Aiyedatiwa, Leader of the Fadama Community Association (FCA) in Abereke, expressed gratitude to the donors, including the World Bank, the federal government, and Ondo State Governor, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for ensuring the timely release of counterpart funds to make the programme accessible to all local governments in the state.

He revealed that 90 farmers, organised into nine groups of ten, benefitted from the inputs distributed in the Abereke community.

“We were given three types of inputs: 1/9 crayfish nets, 1/6 crayfish nets, and chains for fishing, which will help increase fish production in the community,” Aiyedatiwa said.

He appealed for the inclusion of additional fishermen from the community, noting that over 200 fishermen reside in Abereke.

He also assured that the distributed items would be properly utilised to boost fish production and improve the livelihoods of beneficiaries.

“We will not sell it because it is for our benefit to boost our fishing production and to help us take care of our children and families as a whole,” he said.

Earlier, Funmilayo Ikueduranni, Communications Specialist for Fadama Ondo-Cares, introduced the officials and highlighted the role of Fadama programmes in alleviating poverty in grassroots communities.

She described the office as one of the most effective government agencies delivering impactful programmes to local populations.