Honourable Kingsly Ikoro, the member representing Afikpo West State Constituency in Ebonyi State House of Assembly, distributed a fresh supply of farm inputs to rural farmers to ease their financial burden and promote food sufficiency.
The House member distributed fertilizers and disbursed funds to the farmers while stating that fertilizers and farm inputs must be distributed on an industrial scale to farmers if the state is to claim the number 1 spot for food production in the country.
Ikoro, the house leader, said the event was an annual one aimed at boosting local productivity. He explained that Afikpo West in Ebonyi state is an agrarian area, hence the need to supply farmers in the Area with fertilizers, herbicides, rice seedlings, and funds to facilitate the farming activities.
Read Also: Ebonyi Farmers Lament Rising Running Cost in the Agric Sector
To ensure effective and accurate distribution of the farm inputs, the honourable invited the five councillors representing the five wards in Afikpo North West constituency and explained the gesture’s significance to them.
“This is an annual programme. Our aim and objectives are to ensure that we record food sufficiency in the Afikpo West state constituency and boost agriculture in our Area. Our governor consistently preaches the message of getting involved in farming irrespective of occupation.
“We decided to procure and distribute fertilizers, herbicides, and other farm inputs to our rural farmers, especially those who may not be able to afford the cost of fertilizer and farm inputs. There is news to encourage them and reduce their financial burden.
Ikoro explained that the event’s mission was to ensure fertilizers reach rural farmers to boost food productivity. He clarified that the initiative was not for political patronage and that recipients should not share the new farm inputs with political cronies or associates.
“We will not hesitate to fish out anyone who diverts the farm inputs to other means,” the Honourable added.
What to Know
- Ebonyi State is known as Nigeria’s agricultural hotspot, driving food security under Governor Francis Nwifuru’s “Budget of Economic and Social Development.” The state government distributes fertilizers, rice seedlings, herbicides across 13 LGAs to boost rice, yam, cassava, and maize production.
- Various agricultural Initiatives include profiling 34,200 farmers, establishing community farms, and funding a World Bank-supported Automated Integration Ranch System.
- Despite challenges like soaring input costs, Ebonyi leads in crop cultivation (99.5%) and poultry (63.3%), per the 2022 NASC. Critics note the low 1.5% budget allocation, urging more investment to sustain the state’s agricultural dominance.
