Rep Member Empowers 70 Constituents On Mechanise Farming

The member representing, Idah, Federal Constituency, Kogi State Hon. David Zacharias distributed agricultural inputs and empowered 70 constituents on mechanized farming.

Hon Zacharias provided 70 beneficiaries comprising 17 men and women drawn from Idah, Ibaji, Igalamela respectively and 19 from Ofu local government area with a cartons of chemicals containing 12 pieces, I liter of Gold Max (4 No) Clear Weed (4 no), Riceptro (4no) and some cash support.

Hon. Zacharias who was represented by his Senior Legislative Aide (SLA) Comrade Momoh Rilwanu, stated that the training and empowerment was aimed at boosting the productivity of the beneficiaries.

“We have done something similar in the past and this is the fourth. We are trying to encourage the beneficiaries to make use of what has been given to them. We all should go back to the farms and that is what the hon. member is trying to encourage.

He urged the beneficiaries to return to the farm, of the support of the honourable member to provide all they need to help grow their crops”

“We have fertilisers, liquid fertilisers and all sorts of herbicides to enable them grow their farms successfully. This is one of so many things we are going to be doing for people of Idah Federal constituency” he added.

In his comments, a representative of the Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Bala Katos, described the event as being very colourful “The event is colourful in that, the lectures and items shared were very objective. We hope to see more of this”

Also speaking, Godwin Abu, representing White Ligne Engineering Limited described the event as one of the most organized outing in the constituency

‘’This is one of the most organized outing we have had under this constituency, the lecturer is an expert and a consultant on this and we had made sure that everybody understood, to the point of using local dialects to make sure everybody understood the essence of mechanise farming and how they can apply some of the chemicals they were empowered with. This is one of its kind, especially at a season like this when we are currently in the rainy season, so its’ going to be highly beneficially to all the farmers.

The beneficiaries expressed gratitude urging for more from other good spirited individuals.

One of the beneficiaries, Eng. BS Usman from Idah local government described the event as an honour, “ I pray that the Hon member, David Zachariah should keep up, not just this programme alone. We have heard of numerous programmes he has been sponsoring in making sure the people of his constituency are doing better. On this agro programme, it is one of the aspects that I think he needs to do more, even after this. Because we can see all over the country a shortage of food supply and if there isn’t sufficient production, food supply will not be sufficient for the people, so we thank him and urge him to do more”

Another beneficiary, Omata Blessing Ijojo from Ibaji LG also thanked the honorable member urging him to do more. “We thank him and appreciate him for this training and for the ones that he has been conducting on his constituent members have been benefit. We urge him to do more for them and also want others to emulate him by bringing up other trainings and empowerment programmes for his people”

Another beneficiary, Farun Okpanachi Mohammed also known as Abakpa, from Igalamela-Odolu local government described the honourable member as the kind of person every community/ state needs.

“This is not the first time, I am benefiting from his programmes, I had attended one at the Idah hotel where we were empowered with chemicals, sprayers and fertilisers, of which I had used and currently harvesting my beans because of the past empowerment and this is another opportunity for me to get another support and return to the farm again”.

“Because of his support, I do not need to buy beans or cassava again, I even have maize in the farm, because of the past support he gave to us, so I pray to God to continue lifting him up and with his good thoughts towards his people, may God help him retain it. We also urge other politicians and other good-hearted person to emulate him, because if we have 10 or 20 of his type, life will definitely be good for us all.” he said

Okeme Simon, an agricultural research scientist, who evaluated the event said the programme is all about the distribution of agricultural inputs and developing the capacity of beneficiaries to know the application procedures.

“From my evaluation, the beneficiaries were enthusiastic, because most of them attested that they had been using agro chemicals but the training was an eye opener. And I believe after this, agricultural productivity in this constituency will know no bands.

He charged the beneficiaries to farm more to have more harvest from their farms. I charge them to work with what they have learnt to help boost their yield. I can assure whatever they had been harvesting in the past, they will get double or more of the yield after the application of their new found knowledge.

The event was conducted by the Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom in partnership with White -Ligne Engineering Limited.