2023 Farming season: Maikalangu Flags-off Distribution Of Farm Inputs To AMAC Residents

By Lateef Taiwo in Abuja

As part of the Area Councils commitments to enhance food production, the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, has on Saturday flag-off this year’s farming season and distribution of fertilizer and other farm inputs and implements to farmers in the 12 wards in the area Council.

The Chairman, Hon Christopher Zakka Maikalangu disclosed this during the flag-off ceremony that Indeed, agriculture is a viable option which we must have to embrace with vigor.

We must continue to deploy greater effort in the support of agriculture particularly farming through encouraging farmers to boost their production and promoting sales of farm produce.

“On our part as a Council, we have a deliberate policy direction that aims at improving and enhancing the capacity of farmers.

Our annual distribution of free fertilizer has been of immense support and worthy investment in our agricultural sector”.

He informed that this year’s farming season, we are providing 600 bags of fertilizers, agro chemicals, 20 wheel barrows, nap sack sprayers, smoking kiln, hoes, cutlasses, rain boots and hand gloves to be distributed free to farmers in Abuja Municipal Area Council. We have also provided 2 Bajaj Motorcycle for Agriculture Extension workers. These fertilizers and other farm implements must not be diverted, it should get to the farmers to enhance improve crop yield and increase income and potential livelihood for our people.

Maikalangu explained that agriculture is a panacea to social vices, therefore we should encourage our youth to engage themselves in agriculture activities because Idleness is very dangerous.

According to him, due to the urban renewal policy program of the FCT, most of our farm land lands have been taken over by the developer. Our farmers can no longer access farm lands for their subsistence farming and 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.

He appealed to FCTA of the expedient need for integrated demonstration farm land in the Council, this will help boost agricultural production in AMAC.

He urged the farmers to continue to strive to engage in good agricultural practices that would bring about the best in their production while commending the department of Agriculture and natural resources of AMAC for their effort in bringing this occasion to reality.

Some of the items distributed included hoes, farming boots, cutlasses, leather gloves, grinding machine, smoking kiln, fertilizers, pesticides, two motorcycles for extension workers, among others.

Speaking, Supervisory Councilor of Agriculture, AMAC, Hon Saleh Takari Biu said Councilors, women and Youth leaders are selected across the 12 wards of the Council to get down to the grassroots for real farmers to be empowered and therefore warned the beneficiaries that the items should not be sold. We are charting a new course with these inputs”.