From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba
Indigent smallholder rural farmers in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, recently, had cause to smile as they received inputs in aid of massive food production.
The programme co-sponsored by the National Directorate for Employment (NDE), under its Sure-P Programme and the Council’s transition committee, saw many farmers going home with bags of fertilizer and cartons of pesticides. They were also given some cash support.
Immediate past Chairman of the Council, Chief Chinedu Ugoala, who presided the distribution which also attracted National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, and prominent residents of the area on May 27, said 250 bags of fertilizer and 100 cartons of farming pesticides, and cash, were given out to indigent farmers.
Ugoala said his desire and passion was aimed at helping in ameliorating the sufferings of the rural dwellers, whose major occupation was farming.
He said majority of those farmers were currently passing through hardships in procurement of inputs like fertilizer and pesticides, whose prices were very high in the markets: “An opportunity came to work with Sure-P (NDE) Programmes, to assist our rural farmers, and we had to utilize the opportunity to reach out to our people.
“I have passion and desire to help ameliorate the sufferings and financial challenges facing farmers in Isiala Ngwa North Council Area, and believe that our little efforts will help cushion their burdens.
“Also, we extended some benefits to NYSC members serving in our area, who got cartons of noodles and cash, to help them continue to work in love for our area and Nigeria, at large.”
Moses Ikeagwu, from Okpuala Ngwa, thanked the ex-council boss and his collaborators for remembering rural farmers during the key season of the production year: “We are very grateful to the chairman and his people for coming to our assistance.
“It is our belief now that we have been empowered, that as farmers, we will keep up with bumper food production for our communities and beyond.”
Also, another beneficiary, Madam Nwakaego Ukonne, expressed joy and prayed other well to do public and private organisations within and outside the area to assist indigent farmers by providing inputs to boost agriculture in the state and country, at large: “I thank all those that made this possible and promise that we will work hard to produce more food for our people this year.”