Member representing Okene l State Constituency in Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Lawi AT Ahmed yesterday visited the Nigeria Incentive Based-risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) for the distribution of farm inputs and several empowerment materials to farmers and other residents of his constituency.
The program which is designed to empower about 50,000 constituents. 30,000 farmers, 5,000 widows, 5,000 senior citizens and 10,000 vulnerable individuals will benefit from this initiative.
Some of the empowerment initiative the farmers will benefit is different kinds of seedling, herbicides, cutlasses, farm sprayers as well as helping them to sell their farm products. Cash gifts and clothes will be given to widows and elderly women, among others.
Hon. Lawi, who is the Chairman, House Committee on water resources, said the distribution of those materials was part of his initiatives aimed at giving back to the society and empower his constituents, particularly in the area of agriculture.
He said the gesture was in line with government’s decision to encourage agriculture. He said: “My constituency is made up of agrarian communities and 55 per cent of the residents are farmers.
“The distribution of farm implements was as a result of baseline studies of the needs of the people in my constituency. Materials are not going to just being distributed, they will be chosen after due consultations. I was conviced that the appropriate empowerment materials for my people are agricultural inputs.
“I am sure that the materials, with the various supports from Nigeria Incentive Based – risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), would assist farmers in his constituency to increase their yields.”
Hon. Lawi revealed that though the country’s economy was experiencing some challenges, he has resolved to continue to impact on the lives of the people in line with the mandate given to him.
He assured those that were yet to benefit from his gesture not to be discouraged, saying that he will be rolling out different kind of empowerment programme for them.
