Umeh Distributes 1050 Bags of Fertilizer to Constituents, Urges Nigerians to Return to Farming

By Tony Okafor, Awka

Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, has distributed 1050 bags of fertilizer to his constituents, emphasizing the need for Nigerians to return to farming to address the escalating food crisis in the country.

At the distribution event held at Ngodo Hall in Nise, Awka South Local Government Area, Umeh stressed that reliance on food palliatives would be insufficient and urged everyone to engage in farming to feed themselves and their families.

He noted that the federal government’s efforts to provide food support, including the recent distribution of 744 trucks of rice to 774 local governments, were commendable but insufficient to address the food scarcity.

Umeh encouraged his constituents to cultivate food crops like yam, cocoyam, plantain, and vegetables, highlighting the fertile land in Anambra Central Senatorial District.

He reminisced about his childhood days when families would engage in farming, producing enough food for their needs.

The senator lamented the decline of farming in recent times, leading to food scarcity and high prices.

He emphasized that Nigerians must take responsibility for feeding themselves, as dependence on government support would be unsustainable.

The fertilizer distribution was attended by Presidents General of communities, traditional rulers, and leaders of farmers associations, who expressed gratitude to the senator.

Umeh promised to continue fighting for more support for farmers in his constituency, including additional fertilizer distribution, to ensure a bountiful harvest and food availability.

The event was part of the senator’s efforts to promote agriculture and food security in his constituency.

He urged everyone to take advantage of the fertilizer distribution and engage in farming to ensure a food-sufficient future.

The senator added,”I came here so that I can present fertilizer which the federal government gave to us for this farming season. Unfortunately, fertilizer arrived late,but it’s better late than never.

“If you watch you will see there is food crisis in Nigeria- food crisis- a cup of rice; a cup of beans, everything, pepper ,yam, everything is skyward bound; the poor people no longer have access to food to eat.

“You recall that in January 18 this year, I distributed palliative rice which the Federal Government also gave to senators. This Senatorial District was one of the first Senatorial Districts that shared this rice- 13,000 bags of rice. I said that time that this rice would soon finish and hunger would continue. That hunger has continued.

“Even what the federal government doing now to bring down the effect of food scarcity by buying directly and sending to states, nobody can feed us except ourselves. We’re the people who can feed ourselves.

“That’s why government has decided to support farming. In the National Assembly, we have continued to say the only way we can survive as a nation is by being productive. If we produce what we eat, we’ll be in the position to survive. If we depend on people to give us food – when government wakes up and shares rice, hunger will kill everybody.

” Good enough in our Senatorial District, we have very fertile land- any place you cultivate yam, it will grow. There are some local governments here in Anambra Central that are known for farming- like Awka North- they are very big farmers; Awka South are also very big farmer- Isiagu.

” So, I want to use this opportunity to appeal to everybody to go back to farming. Vegetables, these are the things we can produce. Everything now is costly. That’s why government came with the policy of distributing fertilizer. And I got my own( fertile) for Anambra Central immediately within the last 10 days. That’s why we came here because I said I would not wait because we have lost time in the farming season, let us distribute immediately, so that people that are in the position can use it and cultivate food crops- by the time we get to six months time, we’ll have a lot of things to harvest and food will be available for people to eat.

“So, what we have here is about 1050 bags of fertilizer. It’s supposed to be 1200,but we have received 1096 bags or there about. We are still waiting for the balance. I’m waiting for another round of fertilizer to come. So, I will continue to fight to bring fertilizer and distribute. So that those who are into farming would be able to have something to support the crops to have bumper yield.

“I’m very happy that you people gathered here, particularly,the members of farmer associations. It doesn’t matter the quantity, but what we have will be able to give us bountiful harvest if we use it on time. So, we will continue to work hard to get more support for you,” Umeh assured.