Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Forster Ihejiofor has predicted better days ahead if farmers and teeming population will harken to call for massive cultivation of land.
The Commissioner who stated this in a chat with newsmen in his office, said the call was necessary following high cost of food items across the nation.
He explained that state government in collaboration with federal government in fulfilment of its commitment to boost food production had distributed some inputs to encourage dry season farming.
According to him, the current situation could be controlled with joint effort by stakeholders, even as state government had profiled over 27,000 farmers for dry season farming.
“We are blessed with arable lands in the state,when we cultivate the land,we have hope of harvest and of course, harvest translates to food when processed.
“Our farmers and teeming population should go right away and begin to prepare their land.Land preparation should be top gear at the moment especially considering what the state government plans to do,to distribute economic tree seedlings across the state.
“People should start now, within their kindred, villages and towns to form mini Co Operatives that will receive these seedlings and plant them in plantations”
While encouraging farmers to have cluster farms, Ihejiofor assured of government support services to promote inter crop of the economic trees with stable crops of cassava, yam, maize and beans as they would be mentored and guided by Extension Officers from the Ministry.
According to him, various intervention programmes of the ministry including Value Chain Development Programme, Agricultural Development Programme, Agricultural Transformation Support Programme,have been interfacing with farmers, giving them access to subsidized inputs.
He explained that the agric value chain has widened the frontiers as the state was on course to become the hub of rice production in the South East when the ATASP 1 Irrigation Pumping Station at Ifite Ogwari becomes operational.
Dr Ihejiofor pointed out that the state is now a reference point in oil palm/cocoa nut plantation in the nation, adding that the expected yield from the plantation will boost the state’s capacity to ensure food sufficiency.
Contributing, State Programme Manager, Agricultural Development Programme, Mr Jude Nwankwo urged Ndi Anambra to support Governor Soludo’s roadmap towards achieving food sufficiency and economic prosperity for the state.
He lauded government’s support services to Extension Officers so as to enable them deliver services to the farmers especially as it concerns the best agronomic practices to boost food production.
The Programme Manager enumerated other intervention measures to include, opening up of more farmlands in the state, distribution of certified seedlings and other inputs to farmers, encouraging plantation of soursop, ukwa, akiinu as well as enlightenment to discourage consumption of unwholesome food items.
