Kogiflame
Hon. Abiodun Faleke, (APC-Ikeja Federal Constituency) has unfolded an empowerment fund in which he is giving 600 farmers in Kogi west N10,000 monthly and this will run for six months.
Although based in Lagos, Faleke hails from Kogi State, where he was the running mate of the late Audu, who died shortly before being announced winner of the election they contested some six years ago.
He is empowering the 600 farmers in Kogi to improve on food security and stimulate economic growth in the state.
The empowerment is anchored by the National Productivity Centre (NPC) and facilitated by Faleke, an indigene of Kogi.
Managing Consultant of the scheme, Doc. Tunde Arosanyin, told newsmen in Lokoja that the beneficiaries were spread across Kabba/Bunu and Ijumu Local Government Areas of Kogi.
Arosanyin said that the farmers’ empowerment programme which started in May 2021 and would run into early part of 2022 would cover the western senatorial district of Kogi.
He said that the benefiting farmers had been placed on a monthly stipend of N10, 000 each for the next six months with N1 million inputs given to each as seed capital.
He said that the farmers would cultivate sesame, maize, groundnut and improved cassava stems in clusters, adding that solar lights and boreholes had been provided for them to achieve the set goals.
The consultant said farm inputs provided were tractors, fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides, harvesters, and storage facilities.
Arosanyin said that the farmers had employed vigilantes and Agro rangers who had been protecting them and their crops to avoid any clash with herders.
He said that off-takers, who are partners in the project, would buy the farmers’ produce upon harvest and pay them directly so they could have funds to return to the farm and to take care of their wellbeing.
Arosanyin reiterated the commitment of Faleke to align with the Federal Government’s policy of reducing unemployment through agriculture.
