No fewer than 500 farmers in Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos State have received free 50kg bags of fertiliser under a federal government agricultural intervention programme.

The distribution was held on Saturday at the iCare Foundation office in Ikorodu under the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF).

The programme forms part of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope agricultural support initiative aimed at boosting food production and supporting smallholder farmers.

Beneficiaries were drawn from the six local government and Local Council Development Areas within Ikorodu Federal Constituency.

Speaking at the event, director-general of Jimi Benson’s iCare Foundation, Deen Sanwoola, said the intervention demonstrated efforts to ensure federal programmes reached grassroots communities.

Mr Sanwoola, who represented the lawmaker, Babajimi Benson, described agriculture as a critical sector for national development and food security.

“This fertiliser distribution is more than an empowerment programme; it is an investment in our farmers, our food security and our collective future,” he said.

According to him, supporting farmers would help strengthen food security, stimulate economic activity and improve livelihoods across communities.

“Babajimi Benson believes that when farmers are supported, families are fed, businesses grow and communities prosper.

“That is why he remains committed to bringing the dividends of the Renewed Hope Agenda directly to the grassroots,” Mr Sanwoola said.

He urged beneficiaries to make productive use of the fertilisers to improve yields and increase household incomes.

Mr Sanwoola said the initiative was designed to ease rising production costs and promote sustainable agricultural development.

Some beneficiaries described the intervention as timely, noting that the rising cost of fertiliser had become a major challenge.

Adewale Ojo, one of the beneficiaries, expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and Mr Benson for the support.

“We are sincerely grateful to President Tinubu for this thoughtful programme and to Rep. Babajimi Benson for ensuring that farmers in Ikorodu are not left out.

“Buying fertiliser has become very expensive, so this support will go a long way in helping us improve our harvest,” Mr Ojo said.

Another beneficiary, Vivian Adewole, commended the lawmaker for what she described as his consistent attention to the needs of constituents.

“He understands what the people need at every point in time. Whether it is education, healthcare, food support, youth empowerment or agriculture, Rep. Benson always finds a way to connect people with opportunities,” she said.

Mr Adewole said programmes such as the fertiliser distribution had strengthened residents’ confidence in the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The beneficiaries also commended the transparent and orderly conduct of the exercise, saying the selection process ensured that genuine farmers benefited.

They pledged to utilise the fertilisers effectively to increase food production and support agricultural growth across the constituency. 

(NAN)