Federal Lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Saturday, distributed 4 trucks of fertilisers to farmers as part of efforts to ensure food security and promote agriculture in her constituency.
The four trucks contained 2,400 bags of NPK and Urea fertilisers as part of intervention by the federal government to boost food security.
The event which held at her country home in Ihima, Okehi, had in attendance the farmers’ unions from the five local government areas of the district, Ebira farmers’ unions from neighboring states, the Ebira Peoples Association (EPA), as well as members of the Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo communities in Kogi Central.
In her speech during the colourful ceremony,
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan encouraged the farmers to register under union in their area to facilitate federal government interventions, emphasising that accurate data of farmers and their needs can only be obtained through verifiable records.
She disclosed that the intervention was brought by the federal government to support farmers.
“These fertilisers were given to the good people of Kogi Central by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He thought it wise to support the farmers of Kogi Central, and he provided us with four trailers.
“I have brought all four trailers down here. We have also devised a means of distribution that will take into consideration farmers who farm in Kogi Central and those who farm in other states. We have many Ebira farmers in Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, and Nasarawa states. So, we will allocate a portion of the fertilizers to them, but the larger part will go to our farmers who cultivate on our soil here.
“We have also considered our people who are indigenous to other tribes but are residents here, such as the Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo communities. They will all take part in this fertiliser distribution because we understand how difficult times are, and we all need interventions and palliatives.
“The 2,400 bags of NPK and Urea fertilisers will be distributed today. This is not the only support that farmers in Kogi Central will receive, but I urge you all to register with your various Farmers’ Associations in your local government areas, as we will rely on this data moving forward.
“The farmers’ register is necessary because we need to know the capacity of every farm and what is being planted. We need to identify farmers based on the crops they plant and the size of their farmland, as this will determine the kind of intervention and support they receive,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Muhammed Bashir Yusuf expressed appreciation for the gesture, assuring that the farmers would put the fertilisers to good use.
The Secretary General of the Ebira Peoples Association (EPA), Baba Abdulrazaq, representing the President General of the association, praised Senator Natasha’s unprecedented efforts, adding that democracy is finding its true meaning under her leadership.
“On behalf of the Ebira people, I appreciate Senator Natasha. We couldn’t have expected less from you. The difference in political representation is clear, and I call on other political representatives to follow in her footsteps,” he said.
He urged the farmers to use the fertilisers for their intended purpose and further encouraged them to register with their local unions.
He seized the opportunity to appreciate the developmental strides of the lawmaker including her efforts for Ajaokuta steel to be fully operational, adding the people should not pay attention to the ongoing misinformation about Ajaokuta steel investigation.