Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Deputy Chief Whip of the senate, Sen. Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has distributed farm inputs to 2,000 resident farmers in his senatorial district.
Items distributed were 35, 000 of 50 kg bag of rice seedings, herbicides, insecticides and 50kg of organic fertilizer.
Flagging off the programme at Abakiliki Local Government council headquarters in the state, the Senator said the motive was to improve food production in the state.
The Senator representing Ebonyi North senatorial district explained that the backslide in farming followed the discovery of oil in the South.
“And that is why I have decided to make this event an annual one so as to add my quarter towards addressing food insecurity in my state.
“And it will reach those genuine farmers in every local government area in Ebonyi North senatorial district where I’m elected to represent at the senate.
“So the next phase will take place in few weeks to come in other local government areas.
“We are embracing agriculture. Before now Nigeria was very rich in agriculture but due to the discovery of oil, Nigerians abandoned farming,” he stated.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Mbam Okemiri, Wednesday, thanked Sen. Nwebonyi for prompt distribution of the farming inputs.
“I planted last year but due to lack of money to purchase fertilizer I got low yield but this year with the help of this farm inputs from Sen. Nwebonyi I will have a higher yield,” he explained.
Nwebonyi explained that 5000 farmers will benefit in the second phase of the exercise scheduled to take place in June.
He noted that he will be flagging off more roads construction in the Constituency in addition to the ones already going on.
He assured that the roads will be done on rigid concrete pavement to ensure durability.
The Senator also gave out scholarships to 225 students from the Constituency studying in various Tertiary institutions worth over N50m.
He explained that education is the best way to eradicate poverty in the society hence his decision to award the scholarship to the students.
“Education is power. That is why I selected these indigent students to pay their fees until they graduate. That is the best way to fight poverty in the family and community,” he said.
