Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
With the view of boosting food sufficiency in the state, the federal lawmaker representing Edo South Senatorial District, Senator Neda Imasuen has empowered 120 farmers across the 18 Local Government Areas of the State with cocoa seedlings, plantain suckers and stipends.
The Senator, while addressing them in Benin, said it was necessary that the constituents he is representing be given access to better life and boost agriculture in the district as a way of increasing their economic fortunes.
Imasuen said: “the training was meant for farmers within and mostly outside Benin. Farmers are in Ovia, Orhionmwon and Uhumwonde local government areas and they need training on agriculture as they dwell in rural areas and that is my target, especially cocoa farmers”.
According to Senator Imasuen: “the programme is mainly for cocoa farmers because many people don’t know that Edo land is fertile to the extent that if we harness our land very well, Edo will be in third position of cocoa production in Nigeria”.
Senator Imasuen also touched on other areas he had developed, stressing that he has also installed 76 solar lights in 117 streets in four local government areas in Edo South”.
Senator Imasuen explained that the delay in the execution of some of the projects he embarked on for his constituency was due to the delay in the 2024 budget implementation and the swift release of funds for such projects.
He however expressed confidence that contractors would be mobilized to site to complete most of the works before the end of this year.
He promised to collaborate with Edo NUJ to ensure that all the projects are given adequate publicity and proper monitoring of these projects for transparency and accountability purpose.
Some farmers who spoke including, Mrs Iguebor Rose and Mr. Moses Kadiri.
They thanked Senator Imasuen for the empowerment programme and promised to use the opportunity judiciously.
They described the the training as an eye opener and urged him to continue the laudable gesture in order to lift up the poor especially in this period of economic hardship.