CAPACITY BUILDING: SEN. KATUNG EMPOWERS 200 FARMERS IN SOUTHERN KADUNA 22-10-23
By Sadiq Aminu The Senator representing Southern Kaduna Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Sunday Marshall Katung has empowered 200 farmers through Capacity Building and provision of startup grants to promote entrepreneurial development
Speaking during the program in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, the Senator, represented by Professor. Ibrahim Sodangi said the program was part of effort to tackle insecurity and ensure food sufficiency, with a view to promoting growth and development of the Country.
Sen. Marshall Katung said, building the Capacity of Farmers with new trends in agricultural production would scale up, and boost their capacity to enable them become relevant in both local and international market.
He said, those selected for the pilot program in Southern Kaduna were majorly victims of insecurity, who have lose their loved ones and sources of livelihood.
The lawnmaker enjoined the beneficiaries to commit themselves to constant learning, and make judicious use of the grants given them, as well as the knowledge acquired to expand their businesses.
“If you are organizing a program that has to tackle insecurity and you don’t invite the affected person’s, then it’s going to be an exercise in futility, the selection was carefully done to include people that are affected regardless of gender, ethnicity and religion within the different political wards of southern Kaduna,
“As entrepreneurs, you must innovate and be eager to learn. It is only by learning that you can earn more and help your communities,” he explained.
He assured Ginger Farmers whose crops have been ravaged by a fungi disease of government support, noting that, a motion had been moved on the floor of the senate to that effect.
In a presentation, facilitator of the program, Mr. God’spower Eseh described the initiative as timely, pointing out that, it would go along way in eradicating poverty and tackle the lingering security challenges facing the Senatorial District, and the state in general.
Mr. Eseh explained that, the program is aimed at equipping them with the right knowledge that would enable them invest their energy into productive ventures for growth and development.
“The best way to stamp out poverty is to empower people, then when they grow they would inturn help more people and lift them out of poverty, and that’s exactly what the senator has just done, so we are praying that the next time we would be here, the result we would be getting will be impressive,
“It’s not just about giving them the money, he came here today to teach them how to fish, which is the starter pack and the money, they are going back now to fish, and they will in the long run help other people,
“All over the world, when people are idle, they become tools in the hands of wicked people with selfish motives, and by empowering them, when anybody come to them with an offer, they will reject it. When you engage the people, they don’t have the mind to commit crime, as they will be engaged productively “, he said.
Some of the participants who spoke with Africa 247, Joy Moses and Musa Tabbat expressed appreciation to the lawmaker for his effort geared toward building the capacity of agric entrepreneurs, and pledged commitment to make judicious use of the knowledge acquired to promote food sufficiency in the zone.
They called on other well meaning individuals and organisations to emulate the lawmaker toward bringing development to the area.
The Empowerment Program that was in partnership with Federal College of Agriculture Ishiagu, Eboyi State featured distribution of Agricultural insecticide sprayer machines and the sum of fifty thousand, N50, 000 each to the 200 beneficiaries to promote their businesses and enhance self reliance.