Ododo Commends Farmers, Promises Support for Dry Season Farming »

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has commended farmers across the state, particularly those from Lokoja II Constituency, for their resilience and contributions to food security.

The Governor gave the commendation on Sunday during a courtesy visit by a delegation of farmers from Lokoja II at the Government House, Lokoja.

Governor Ododo described farming as a noble profession that sustains the nation, saying, “We thank God for giving us a profession that feeds the world. Farmers are the richest group of people because they sustain life.”

He attributed the challenge of insecurity in parts of the country to years of neglect of the agricultural sector, while applauding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing farming and rural development.

To further boost agricultural productivity, Governor Ododo directed the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, to profile farmers in Lokoja II for a no-interest loan to support dry-season farming. He also encouraged members of his cabinet to actively engage in farming as a way of inspiring grassroots participation.

The Governor assured the visiting farmers that his administration would tackle post-harvest losses by constructing rural access roads and pledged that the state government would offtake farm produce directly from local farmers.

He also thanked the people of Lokoja II for their overwhelming support during the 2023 governorship election and urged them to take part in the ongoing INEC voter registration exercise.

Speaking earlier, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, who led the delegation, expressed appreciation to the Governor for his continued support to farmers. He noted that the improved economic condition of farmers in the area was evident in the successful Hajj pilgrimage of 68 farmers this year.

On his part, a representative of the farmers, Rt. Hon. Abdurahman Dagana, described Governor Ododo as the most humble and accessible governor in Nigeria. He appealed to the state government to address the recent crash in the prices of farm produce and consider reducing the cost of farm inputs to enable farmers in Lokoja II participate fully in dry-season farming.