Bomba Dauda
Member representing Jaba Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Monday Samson Dikko in concert with Dr. Chetachi Ecton (TIRHAM), a Nigerian U. S-based philantropist have distributed seedlings of various crops to 3,000 rural Farmers to aid fight food insecurity.
Issuing the seedlings at the Chief Palace in Kwoi yesterday, the Legislature stated that the Country is going to experience serious hunger, only radical approach in the agricultural sector will help cushion the effect.
He said it would be counter productive for the people of his Constituency to abandon farming at this time for elusive white collar jobs, saying that farmers remain the only hope that can secure our region.
According to him there is need for Government to declare State of emergency on agriculture looking at the ravaging effect of COVID-19 pandemic that is likely to affect the country especially, on food production and distribution.
“This calls for diversification, there is the need for the Government and private sector to, as a matter of necessity encourage farming.”
He noted that Agriculture still remained the biggest employer of labour, adding, it is lucrative enough to develop the Country’s economy.
He urged that, “All hands must be on deck for us to succeed as a people, we must work together in growing our Land and our community,” Dikko maintained.
In her part, Dr. Chetachi Ecton noted that Limited access to planting materials, poor farming practices are among the main challenges in the country due to the pandemic, hence the initiative to give out seedlings become imperative so that we can eradicate hunger
She pointed out that the importance of industrialisation, growth and development can never be overemphasized.
“Without any doubt, the distribution of the seedlings would ginger cash crop production which will eventually boost the Nigerian economy,” She added.
The seedlings includes; maize, Rice, Soyabeans and Beans. The team also trained the Farmers on how to best plant and care for the seedlings.
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