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The immediate past member of the House of Representatives for Okene/Ogori-Magongo constituency of Kogi State, Tijani Ahmed Damisa, has organised training for 350 farmers in his constituency on the production of rice and beniseed.
Addressing participants during a one-week training and empowerment programme for the farmers at Okengwe in Okene Local Government Area of the state, the lawmaker said the gesture was to encourage them to improve on their mode of farming for better yields.
He noted that the choice of rice and beniseed production was borne out of the economic importance of the crops, saying it is capable of generating enormous revenue for the community, the state and the country in general.
“Besides the nutritional value of beniseed, there is need to encourage both local and foreign investors to improve the crop from the stage of planting, harvesting, processing, marketing, consumption and storage for future prospects,” Damisa said.
He said having attended to his constituency in the area of education, health and skills acquisition while in office, he decided to encourage and support the youth and women to venture into agriculture to enable them cater for their needs rather than allowing themselves to be used as tools for destruction.
The lawmaker also distributed fertilizers to the farmers as part of his effort to assist them boost their agricultural production.
Damisa, who identified agriculture as the only way government could revamp the nation’s economy, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to place premium on agriculture since oil is no longer lucrative.
Our correspondent learnt that the programme, which was organised in collaboration with the Ozomata Foundation of Nigeria and the National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI) Badeggi, Niger State, has trained several youths and women in the constituency.
Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Director of NCRI, Dr Samuel Agboirethe, commended the lawmaker for his effort in training the youth and women in the area of agriculture and challenged other lawmakers in the state to emulate him.
Credit: Daily Trust
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