A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tunji Olawuyi, has facilitated a training programme for rice farmers in Ekiti, Isin, Irepodun and Oke-Ero local government areas of Kwara State.
The beneficiaries of the programme, including women and youths were trained on how to operate water pumping machines to aid irrigation farming in the areas.
The two-day training which was conducted by the National Productivity Centre (NPC) in collaboration with the federal lawmaker.
The trainer, Adebayo Lawal from Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) said empowering women and youths in rice farming through the mastery of water pumping machines is essential for a sustainable and prosperous agricultural future.
He explained that by utilizing the machine, the beneficiaries will not only contribute to the environmental preservation but also drive economic growth and improve livelihoods.
Lawal told the beneficiaries that the art of water pumping machines involves understanding their functionality, maintenance and proper usage for agriculturally efficient rice farming.
The representative of Olawuyi, Mr Ganiyu Salami said the lawmaker would continue to empower the people to ensure food security in the constituency.
Salami commended the development partners for the success of the training while asking for more productive partnership in the future for the agricultural growth of the federal constituency.
The beneficiaries for the training were picked from Agbeloba farmers, Mekunu farmers, Arike farmers, Ominira farmers, Agbedun farmers and Agbeniyi farmers associations.
They were given certificates, pumping machines and half bag of rice seedlings at the end of the exercise for start-up.
