Lawmaker donates farm inputs to 140 farmers in Niger

John Paul, a lawmaker representing Munya constituency in Niger State House of Assembly, says he has donated some farm input to 140 farmers in his constituency.

Paul told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Wednesday that the donation was part of his social responsibility to his constituents.

The lawmaker said that the inputs included tractors, seedlings, yam seedlings, cassava stems and fertilisers but declined to mention the cost of the items.

Paul noted that the gesture was aimed at encouraging farmers to produce more food for local consumption and exports.
“The production of more foods will cushion the effects of the current economic recession; the provision of farm inputs will also more people in the state to venture into farming.

“Niger State is blessed with vast arable lands to produce enough food but we lack essential farm implements and inputs.

“If adequate farm inputs are provided early enough, farmers in the state can produce twice in a year,” he said.

The lawmaker urged beneficiaries to make effective use of the donated items to improve food production and advised them to avoid the temptation of selling the items to make “quick money’’.

He also warned farmers against selling of their produce to middlemen, who often purchased them at cheap rates, only to sell them out at high rates to make huge profits. (NAN)