The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, Senator Ken Eze, has distributed fertilisers and other vital farming inputs to smallholder farmers across four local government areas in Ebonyi Central Senatorial District.
The distribution exercise, which took place in Onueke on Tuesday, targeted farmers in Ezza North, Ezza South, Ikwo, and Ishielu LGAs.
According to Senator Eze, the intervention forms part of efforts to promote food self-sufficiency and support the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on agriculture.
Speaking to journalists at the event, the lawmaker said:
“We have food insecurity in the country, and that prompted Mr. President to embark on an aggressive agricultural revolution. As senators, we are bringing that initiative down to our constituencies to support the federal and state governments.”
Items distributed included 4,000 bags of fertiliser, 1,000 cartons each of insecticides, herbicides, and liquid fertiliser, as well as high-yielding rice seedlings and 1,000 packs of knapsack sprayers.
The initiative, Senator Eze explained, is designed to ease the burden on farmers who may not be able to afford essential farm inputs.
“You will agree with me that people are hungry. We are trying to encourage more people to return to farming because the more we farm, the more food we have to feed the nation,” he said.
He noted that similar interventions in the past had led to tangible improvements in food supply and reduced market prices.
“Certainly, you can testify that food prices are beginning to drop. Previously, even when you went to the market, food was scarce. But now, with these interventions, there is a noticeable improvement. More people are harvesting, and produce is becoming more available,” he added.
The senator emphasized the importance of supporting rural farmers to boost yield and sustainability: “when you apply fertiliser, the result is a better harvest. Even those who have little can now expect more because of this support,” he said.
The event was attended by stakeholders and party leaders, including former House of Representatives member Hon. Lazarus Ogbe and Ebonyi State APC Deputy Chairman Hon. Alphonsus Chinedu Nwali. Both praised Senator Eze’s leadership and commitment to his constituents, describing his performance as “five-star” and commending his consistency in grassroots development.
