Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, Senator Diket Plang, has distributed water pumping machines and other implements to promote dry season farming in his senatorial district.
Speaking with newsmen at the venue of the distribution yesterday, the senator representing the Plateau Central senatorial district of Plateau State said the gesture was aimed at tackling hunger and ensuring food security.
He pointed out that apart from farming during the rainy season, there was also the need to encourage dry-season farming, stressing that the pumping machines were purchased to lessen the burden of farmers who engage in dry-season farming which could be tedious without sufficient water supply for crops to grow.
“I come from one of the most rural communities in Plateau State. I understand the needs of my people because I live among them, interact with them and know where it pinches most. I also recognise that even a small intervention in the right area can make a significant difference in their lives.
“This project is driven by the potential I see in my people. Our senatorial district experiences a regular rainy season between May and August, which supports agriculture. However, the long dry season poses challenges. We have an abundance of land and natural water sources, making our environment suitable for both horticulture and irrigation farming,” he said.
Plang further said the primary aim was to enhance food production and economic opportunities, adding that the gesture was further being complemented by suitable fertiliser.
