The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Chairman, Mr. Christopher Maikalangu, has distributed fertilizers and other agricultural inputs to 500 farmers across the twelve wards in the Area Council.
He made the donation at the kick-off of the 2023 farming season in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) on Saturday in Abuja.
The donated items include; 600 bags of fertilizers, agrochemicals, 20 wheelbarrows, nap sack sprayers, smoking kilns, hoes, cutlasses, rain boots, and hand gloves.
Two motorcycles were given to two agriculture extension workers in the area council.
Maikalangu said the items were meant to encourage farmers to boost their production and promote sales of farm produce in the council.
He said that the area council had put in a deliberate policy direction that aims at improving the capacity of farmers and investing in the agriculture sector.
Maikalangu also said that the donation was part of his campaign promises of improving the livelihoods of AMAC residents.
“Agriculture is a panacea to social vices, therefore we should encourage our youth to engage themselves in agricultural activities because idleness is very dangerous.
“Due to the urban renewal policy program of the FCT, most of our farmlands have been taken over by developers. Our farmers can no longer access farmlands for their subsistence farming and for other agricultural purposes.
“This has greatly affected the growth of agriculture in the council which is one of the viable economic empowerment of our people.
“I want to make a passionate appeal to FCTA on our need for integrated demonstration farmland in the council, this will help boost agricultural production in AMAC,” he said.
He urged the beneficiaries to resist the temptation of selling the items given to them.
Mr Musa John, a beneficiary, appreciated the chairman for the items adding that it would go a long way in boosting his agriculture output this year.
“I want to appreciate the chairman for what he donated to us. I will ensure that I make use of these items judiciously,” he said.
