The member representing Afikpo West State Constituency in Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Kingsley, has distributed bags of fertilisers and other farm inputs to rural to ensure a bumper harvest, food sufficiency, and a reduced financial burden on the beneficiaries.
Hon Ikoro, who insisted that fertilisers and farm inputs reach rural and poor farmers in the area, maintained that for the state to become number one in food production in the country, fertilisers and farm inputs must be channelled to the real farmers.
Ikoro, who is the leader of the House, said the programme was an annual event.
He said Afikpo West, being an agrarian area needs fertilisers, herbicides and rice seedlings, as well as funds to facilitate the farming activities.
He said that to ensure that the farm inputs reached the intended recipients, the rural farmers in his constituency, he invited the five councillors representing the five wards in Afikpo North West constituency and explained the importance of the gesture to them.
He said, “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 fertilisers, herbicides and other farm inputs to our rural farmers, especially those who may not be able to afford the cost of fertiliser and farm inputs. There is news to encourage them and reduce their financial burden.
“Our mission is to ensure the fertilisers reach the rural farmers. It is not for political patronage. It is not to be shared amongst political cronies or political associates. We will not hesitate to fish out anyone who attempts to divert the inputs or the fertilisers.
“Let me strictly warn you: You must guard against any acts that are capable of sabotaging the effort of the State Governor Francis Nwifuru to support rural agriculture and boast about food security in Ebonyi State.
“I want you all to consider the exercise a top priority. As part of the effort to avoid diversion, apart from the invitation we extended to the wards, we equally sent representatives of rural farmers in their communities to the distribution centre at Ibii/Ozizza Ward.”
He implored the farmers in attendance to ensure that the farm inputs were effectively utilised to achieve the state government’s objective.
The beneficiaries commended the lawmaker for the gesture, assured that the fertilisers and farm inputs would be effectively utilised, and promised a bumper harvest.
