The Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State, Chief Emmanuel Ajah, says he will set up a task force to ensure judicious utilisation of farm inputs donated to the council by Governor' Francis Nwifuru.
Ajah made the declaration at Isiaka, the headquarters of the council during the distribution of the Governor's 2025 wet Season Farm inputs to farmers.
The LGA Boss said that the taskforce would ensure that the farm inputs which include rice seedlings, fertilisers and herbicides, are well distributed, utilised and not sold in the market, among other outlets.
"Anyone caught selling the farm inputs will be punished,i infact retrieved from such person and given to those who would judiciously make use of them.
"Ivo people are predominantly farmers and we cannot fail to effectively utilise these inputs given to us by the governor.
"We would do everything possible to ensure that by the time the commissioner and her team returns to the council during the harvest period, Ivo will come first in farm productivity."
He thanked the governor for the gesture, noting that he actually understands the plight of the people.
"The governor is determined to.mitigate hunger because he is farmer friendly and caring.
"Ivo people will continue to support him to achieve his agricultural objectives towards the people."
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs Nkechinyere Iyioku thanked the chairman for huge turnout of farmers on the occasion and assured of the governor 's support to them.
"You must ensure that the items get to the real farmers and not the political ones who don't know their value.
"You must ensure the the council have its farms and ensure that the same is replicated at the development centres.
Lectures on modern farm practices were delivered on the occasion by resources persons such as Mr John Nweze of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP).
Stakeholders of the council were unanimous in their support for the governor and the ability of the chairman to ensure that the inputs get those who will judiciously utilise them.
Mrs Judith Amah, thanked the governor for the inputs noting that such have made their farm works this year easier.
