The lawmaker representing Ogun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, has empowered no fewer than 3,082 farmers with equipment and other farm inputs to boost food sufficiency in the state.
Adeola, while addressing the beneficiaries at the mega empowerment programme held in Ilaro on Tuesday, said his decision to equip the farmers was in line with the determination of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to ensure food security and end hunger in the land.
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He informed the gathering, comprising politicians and other stakeholders across the state, that the federal government has earmarked a sum of N350 billion in this year’s budget for the reticulation and desilting of various dams across the country to carry out all-year-round farming.
He hinted that the allocated fund was to enable all River Basins Development Authorities in Nigeria to provide water for the irrigation of farmlands in pursuit of a three-season farming calendar.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations hinted further that the incumbent administration in the country launched the National Agriculture Development Fund of N100 billion, while a food security initiative, the ‘Earn From the Soil’ project, was targeted at transforming subsistence farming to robust, export-driven economic opportunities.
The lawmaker added that some farmers across 15 states of the federation have so far benefited from the distribution of 60,342 metric tons of improved seeds, 887.255 metric tons of seedlings, and 62,328 metric tons of inorganic fertilizers with the cultivation of 118,657 hectares of wheat under the presidential initiative.
Adeola said, “Massive mechanisation of farming is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda on Agriculture. The federal government is in the process of acquiring 2,000 tractors ordered from the United States of America for distribution to farmers across Nigeria.
“The Tinubu Administration is also working towards a holistic development of the livestock sector of agriculture and has taken the initiative of establishing a full-fledged Ministry of Livestock in Nigeria to address the challenges of livestock production and boost the production of various species of livestock nationwide. A total sum of N12 billion is budgeted for the ministry, and ranches will be established in 7 states, including Lagos and Ogun State.
“Besides the farm equipment and inputs, each of the beneficiaries were given a sum of N100,000 as financial support for the new planting season.”
He noted that farmers are critical to human existence and well-being as well as critical to all the development initiatives desired for Nigerians.
The lawmaker stressed that the programme was also to help farmers overcome challenges of low productivity, lack of training in modern agricultural practices, costly farm implements and seedlings, as well as limited access to finances.
“This programme is facilitated in collaboration with the Federal College of Agriculture, Isiagu, Ebonyi State and the Federal Cooperative College, Eleyele. Ibadan. A total number of 5,910 practicing farmers organized into 235 clusters and present here today have received training in various aspects of modern farming methods relative to their specialization. Of this number, 3,082 are benefiting directly from empowerment, while others will benefit from shared equipment such as tractors.
“Among the empowerment items for the trained farmers organized in clusters are 20 tractors, 184 tricycles, 536 water pumps, 1,800 sprayers, 10,560 bags of NPK fertilizer, 2,880 home kit fertilizer seeds, and 5,577 growth enhancers. Others are 66 13-horsepower tillers, 2,000 gallons of insecticide, 403 porter organic liquid fertilizers, as well as other inputs like cassava stems, various improved seedlings, and 30,000 pineapple suckers, among other seeds and seedlings.
“This programme has been timed to coincide with the beginning of the farming seasons, and the expectation going forward is to enable and empower our farmers to operate at least three farming seasons in a year as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda for Food Security,” he submitted.
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