Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has flagged off the free distribution of fertilizer to farmers in the state.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at Iboko in Izzi Local Government Area and Ugbodo in Ebonyi Local Government Area, Governor Nwifuru said the gesture aims to support farmers with free fertilizer and other necessary farm inputs to produce food for both subsistence and commercial purposes.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Princess Nkechinyere Iyioku representing the governor, praised farmers for their resilience and urged civil servants to adopt farming as a "second address."
She warned against diverting the commodity, vowing that those caught would face the full wrath of the law.
"This is the first time these inputs are given completely free. The governor wants every local government to have its own farm. We're building an agricultural economy that doesn't rely on handouts," she said.
The commissioner called for the establishment of functional farms in all 13 local government areas and 64 development centers across the state to promote sustainable food security.
The Executive Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area, Barrister Stephen Emenike Nwankpa, commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for his agricultural-friendly policy.
He emphasized that the inputs were meant strictly for genuine farmers and not for profiteers or political actors.
"We know the real farmers in our villages. This is not the time to collect and sell. You must plant now. The fertilizers must be used now — not next season,” he said.
He added that local stakeholders generated allocation spreadsheets to ensure transparency, and that security personnel had been deployed to curb diversion and sabotage.
Meanwhile, during the flag off at Ugbodo, Prince Chinedu Uburu, Chairman of Ebonyi Local Government Area, hailed the initiative as a turning point in Governor Nwifuru’s strategy to position Ebonyi as a commercial-scale agricultural hub in Nigeria.
Also speaking, Chief Stephen Uchenna Igwe, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, described Governor Nwifuru as “a true farmer”, assuring citizens of a productive farming season.
He added that local stakeholders generated allocation spreadsheets to ensure transparency, and that security personnel had been deployed to curb diversion and sabotage.
Meanwhile, during the flag off at Ugbodo, Prince Chinedu Uburu, Chairman of Ebonyi Local Government Area, hailed the initiative as a turning point in Governor Nwifuru’s strategy to position Ebonyi as a commercial-scale agricultural hub in Nigeria.
Also speaking, Chief Stephen Uchenna Igwe, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, described Governor Nwifuru as “a true farmer”, assuring citizens of a productive farming season.
The free distribution included 450 bags of inorganic fertilizer, 60 bags of organic fertilizer, 300 bags of 25kg certified Faro 44 rice seedlings, and 200 cartons of herbicides in Izzi Council Area.
The event featured technical training sessions by agricultural experts on cassava cultivation, Faro 44 rice farming, and value-added processing for nutrition.
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