Ugo Nosiri, Owerri
The Federal government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture commenced the distribution of bags of fertilizers and herbicides to farmers in Imo State, to enhance food productivity in the country
A representative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Abuja Mrs. Dorothy Botar, in her address at the commencement of the distribution in Owerri, said the gesture was part of measures to cushion the effects of subsidy removal to better the lots of Nigerians.
Mrs Bolar explained that sixty cassava farmers, some of whom are youths would benefit from the batch and urged the beneficiaries to utilise the inputs which will in turn increase their yields.
“Because of the recent happenings in the country, the Federal Government deemed it fit to increase the farmer’s productivity. This is one of the activities the Federal Government feels will help increase and improve their productivity and income,” she said.
The Director Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Imo State Mr. Chris Iwuchukwu, said the beneficiaries were carefully selected from across the state as part of commitment by the Federal Government to empower Nigerians especially those in the grassroots.
He advised them not to sell the inputs noting that the herbicides will help to clear the bushes and take care of weeds.
Some of the beneficiaries thanked the government for the gesture and called on those waiting for white collar jobs to embrace agriculture to improve their well being.
They however called on other tiers of government to pay more attention to agriculture to achieve food security.
