A federal lawmaker, Chief Sam Onuigbo, has distributed galvanised battery cages, point-of-lay birds, feeds and money to over 100 small holder-poultry farmers in his constituency in Abia.
Onuigbo, who is representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal constituency, distributed the items to the farmers during a ceremony in Umuahia on Wednesday.
Each of the farmers was given a galvanised battery cage, 45 birds, three bags of feeds and N20,000.
They were given the items after they were trained on how to run a poultry farm.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project, which was put together by the Federal Co-operative College, Oji River, Enugu State, was initiated and attracted by Onuigbo.
Onuigbo, who was represented by Mr Abraham Osondu, re-emphasised the importance of the initiative, saying it was anchored on provision of alternative source of livelihood for his people.
According to him, the people have been weighed down for decades by the dearth of employment and sustainable means of livelihood.
He said said 100 consituents had earlier benefitted from a similar project, which came in two batches in February.
Onuigbo charged the new beneficiaries to replicate the success stories of the first set of beneficiaries.
He urged them to take the project seriously, so that in about a month’s time, they would begin to reap the benefits of their dedication and tenacity.
“In fact, it is reported that there is an annual demand of 1.39 billion dollars in poultry products in Nigeria.
“Today, you have become a part of this large and lucrative industry, which the Food and Agricultural Organisation rates as the second biggest in Africa,” Onuigbo said.
A beneficiary, Mr Obioma Aligekwe, who is living with disability, thanked the lawmaker for the kind gesture, saying “it will affect my life in many ways.” (NAN)
