By Chukwuka Ugokwe :
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Foster Ihejiofor says government will sustain intervention measures aimed at enhancing food sufficiency and wealth creation for healthy living.
He explained that his ministry would make various inputs available for farmers to facilitate government agricultural revolution agenda for the state.
The Commissioner was speaking during the 8th Edition of Enugwu Ukwu Community sponsored Agricultural Exhibition and Prize winning Competition tagged (Agric-Expo 2022) held at the Civic Centre, Enugwu Ukwu for farmers as part of activities marking its New Yam Celebration.
Dr. Ihejiofor who was represented by his Technical Assistant, Mr. Ifeanyi Nwaegbo, described this year’s celebration as unique with high record of farm produce and called for its sustenance.
While urging farmers to migrate to trending regenerative agriculture in view of its numerous advantages, he assured of government commitment to provide them with needed support services for increased yields.
Earlier, the Traditional Ruler of Enugwu Ukwu, Igwe Ralph Ekpe said the event was staged to showcase agricultural potentials of the community especially yam produce believed to be the chief crop in Igbo nation.
He, then, thanked God for keeping them alive to celebrate another New Yam Festival even as he called for mass participation in agriculture to fight hunger and poverty.
The Chairman of the Community’s Agricultural Commission, Chief Jasper Okonkwo noted that the displayed farm produce were output of seedlings distributed to farmers from the community in March this year.
He expressed satisfaction at the bountiful harvest recorded within a short period and charged farmers not to relent.
One of the Promoters of the annual event, Ambassador Chukwuemeka Nwachukwu, described exhibition/competition as a way of encouraging people especially youths to venture into agriculture for economic sustainability.
According to the Programme Manager, Rice Production, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Ifeanyi Okoye who announced the result of the competition, Nze Joe Anaelom, emerged as the winner of the Farmer of the year/star prize of Motorcycle.
Others who emerged as the best three winners in crops and livestock categories respectively include, Ikechukwu Okonkwo, Ugochukwu Okeke, Ogochukwu Okemba, Uchenna Nnatu, Stephen Anaekwe and Justina Nwujo.
