Agriculture
Traditional Ruler Cautions Against Using Chemicals For Fishing
A traditional ruler in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, has advised the residents of his area and other Nigerians against the use of chemicals for fishing.
Abdullahi, the ‘Ehimega Opand’, said it was to avoid water pollution and in the interest of the health of the people.
The First Class tradtional ruler gave the advice while addressing his subjects when they paid him Sallah homage in his Palace in Umaisha, Toto Local Government Area of the State.
He lamented the pollution of the area’s river through the use of chemicals for fishing and called for attitudinal change.
Abdullahi called on his people and other Nigerians not to be idle but embrace farming, fishing and trading, to be self reliant and contribute positively to societal development.
He said the call became imperative due to the importance of agriculture to human and societal development.
“Agriculture and trade provide food, employment and improvement on the standard of living of the people, “ he said.
He commended the State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, for his efforts in enduring security of lives and properties in the area which, he said, had improved tremendously.
He said the governor had done a lot for the people in terms of security which had been the major challenge in the past.
“But now with his tireless efforts, our people are secured and you can travel both day and night without any fear of attack: we thank him for that,” he said.
The traditional ruler urged Muslims and other Nigerians to use the Eid- el- Kabir occasion to pray for the nation’s security and other challenges facing the country.
Earlier, the Overseer of Umaisha Development Area, Mallam Iliyasu Miriyam said that the visit was to rejoice with the people on the Sallah celebration.
He has commended the traditional ruler, Gov Sule and the speaker of the state legislature for their tireless efforts in securing the people and attracting development to the area.
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Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.