ASABA/Nigeria: The beneficiaries of Delta SEEFOR Hybrid Tomatoes Empowerment in the state, have applauded the World Bank, European Union, Delta State Government and the State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) for impacting positively on their lives through the scheme.
A cross section of beneficiaries, who spoke during a visit to their individual farms across the state with a view to ascertaining the success gained from their harvest, the present stage of their crop as well as the challenges inherent in Tomatoes farming, said despite certain issues, the intervention had enhanced their socio-economic well being.
The beneficiaries including Mr. Ekiruo Champion from Oghara, who realised over three hundred thousand naira from sales of his harvest, stated that before he was involved in the empowerment, he was finding it difficult to pay his children’s school fees but had paid both the backlog and present fee as a result of the resources generated from his tomatoes farm.
Mrs. Emum Queen from Ebendo community in Ndokwa West stated that she made the sum of one hundred and ninety five thousand naira from sales, adding that they preferred Tomatoes’ farming to other crops as a result of the fact that it yields much faster than other crops which in turn generates quick return on investment.
Another successful beneficiary from Iyede in Isoko North Local Government Area, Pastor Ben Idala Sunday said that he had harvested once but said that he was optimistic that he would record tremendous success.
While saying that their greatest challenge was irrigation, they appealed to relevant authorities for the provision of constant water supply so as to enable them go into all round season farming.
Another beneficiary, Mr. Achinike Ezeclimb said that through his proceeds he had been able to cater for his family, stressing that after his failed plans to travel abroad, the empowerment had become his lifeline.
Other areas visited included beneficiaries from Ossissa in Ndokwa East, Sapele, Okpanam, Issele-Azagba and Uvwie among others.
