Palliative: Delta doles out 508 tonnes of Maize to poultry farmers
…as orphanage homes receive 600 crates of eggs from association
By Christopher Odamah
Delta State Government has doled out 508 tonnes of maize as palliative to the state poultry farmers, just as Orphanage Homes across the three senatorial districts received 600 crates of eggs gift from the farmers.
The Delta State Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Chief Eric Tomfawei, disclosed this during the hand over ceremony of the 600 crates of eggs donated to State Orphanage Homes.
Presenting the eggs, Tomfawei said the gesture is to formally thank Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for supporting the poultry farmers with maize palliative, saying the support was impactful in cushion the effect of the high cost of feeds that was bedeviling the livestock industry.
In his words, “on February 1 and June 13, 2024, members of Poultry Association of Nigeria, Delta State Chapter, received 448 tonnes and 60 tonnes of palliative maize respectively from the Delta State Government to cushion the effect as a way of supporting poultry farmers in the state.
“We promised His Excellency to give back 600 crates of eggs during the second flagged-off of palliatives to Deltans in appreciation of his goodwill to us. The 600 crates of eggs which we are giving to these orphanage homes across the State, is part of the produce from the maize palliative we received. Today, we have fulfilled that promise,” he added.
The State PAN chairman said this initiative was an offshoot from the last palliative, his members got from the State Government on February 1, adding that Delta State farmers have the capacity to feed the state.
According to him, “it is important to state that it was on the directive of Delta State Government that the Association should distribute the eggs to Orphanage Homes across the State. We invited only 15 Orphanage Homes to this flag-off due to logistics challenges. Those who are not here will receive their allocations through their respective local council PAN executives”.
The ceremony, he said, has come to demonstrate that with the right support to poultry farmers, eggs can be given free of charge to the poor and vulnerable persons especially children in our society. This is what this administration of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has proved – that the poor can eat eggs.
“I have directed all LGA PAN chairmen to ensure that the listed Orphanage Homes that will benefit from the free eggs should sign our delivery note upon receiving their allocations as the signed document would be presented to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) for record purposes”, Tomfawei said.
He used the opportunity to appreciate the Palliative Committee for its due diligence in the distribution of the first phase of the maize palliative and specially thanked the chairman of the Committee and Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, “for always giving the Association listening ears when we cry to him.”
He reiterated the Association’s appeal to look into the state of insecurity affecting some parts of the state and also empower true, genuine farmers for increased productivity.
He appealed to the chairman of the Palliative Committee and the Governor for upward review of the quantity of maize allocated to PAN during the second phase of the palliative exercise. According to him, of the 18,707 bags of 50kg sacks of maize approved by the Governor at the flag-off, only 1,200 bags have been received by the Association. The figure represents 6.4 percent of the maize so far received by the state chapter.
“Your Excellency, Sir, Delta State PAN controls over 85 percent of the poultry industry in the State. During the first phase of the palliative exercise, small holder farmers were mostly considered, which indeed was the intent of the palliative programme. However, this was not the case with the second phase, as only about 20 percent of our members benefitted. Your Excellency, Sir, we humbly request that this allocation should be looked into as we look forward to getting a favourable response, Sir”, the group appealed.
Also speaking at the presentation of the donation to Orphanage Homes, the Commissioner of Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Michael Osuoza, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Theresa Adiabua-Oliko, commended the poultry farmers for their gesture
The State Government, he said, is appreciative of the kind gesture by PAN in keying into the MORE Agenda which is the compass of the State Governor’s developmental agenda.
This gesture, he added, is a way of reciprocating the State Government’s good gesture, noting that it is in tandem with the dictum that governance should be by collective efforts. “The Government and Citizens, should mutually support each other in the circle of progress”, he said.
He charged the Orphanage Homes beneficiaries to utilize the support judiciously by using it for the original purpose.
Also speaking during the ceremony, the Special Adviser, Special Duties, Governor’s Office; Mr. Chuks Ojei, said it is a welcome development to having an organisation like PAN giving such gesture to less privileged children in Delta State Orphanage Homes.
A beneficiary, Dr (Mrs.) Q.N. Nwaodua, who represented Rev. Fr. Mario David Dibie of Lumen Christi Family Orphanage, Asaba, thanked the poultry farmers on behalf of other beneficiaries.
