By Chid Nkwopara

OWERRI—THE Federal Government yesterday, distributed several tonnes of improved varieties of palm seedlings, cassava cuttings, potatoes and other farm inputs, to farmers from the 27 local government  areas of Imo State.

Minister of State (1), for Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri, while distributing the farm inputs, said Federal Government’s target was to create employment and wealth for the citizenry, through agriculture.

The minister said: “Government is aware of the problems posed by food insecurity facing several countries of the world today. One sure way of ensuring food sufficiency in our dear country is for all farmers to increase their productivity.”

While commending Imo farmers for keying into the  agricultural transformation of the Federal Government, Onwuliri noted that the administration had been working hard to diversify the nation’s economy. She said: “Government is working very hard to diversify the nation’s economy. Agriculture is now contributing a whole lot in the nation’s gross domestic product, GDP.”

According to her, Nigeria is now exporting cassava to other countries, pointing out that the country is yet to meet the international demand of her cassava.”

Earlier in his address, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, recalled that in the 2012/2013 farming season, the Ministry set up a target of raising nine million improved tenera oil palm seedlings, with potential yield capacity of 21 metric tonnes per hectare of fresh fruit bunches, stressing that government had already done four million.