By Chukwuka Ugokwe :
The state government’s agricultural sector agenda of providing oil palm and coconut seedlings for mass plantation has continued to attract wide commendations from stakeholders and well meaning citizens of the state.
A cross section of beneficiaries who spoke on the recently introduced initiative by the present administration of Gov Chukwuma Soludo, scored government high for laying foundation to revamp the seemingly abandoned palm plantation over the years.
Fielding questions from newsmen on the distribution exercise at the Premises of Agriculture Ministry, President General, Ihembosi Progress Assembly, Prof Christopher Ihueze, hailed effort already in place to boost the sector for economic sustainability of the state.
“With this, it means the economy of the state will be developed. It is going to create job opportunities for the teeming youths and village economy will increase.
“By so doing, you see that the issue of poverty will be eradicated in all communities. In my Community, we have Committee for Agriculture. This Committee will play a supervisory role in this programme to ensure that the aspirations of the government is achieved”
While describing the initiative as timely and impactful, he commended Gov Soludo for using the programme to reinvigorate agrarian development.
Commenting on the development, President General, Isulo Town Union, Hon Samuel Oguagbaka, urged communities to take ownership of the programme by encouraging people to key into it for their economic survival.
“We encourage communities that have not collected their own to come and key into this wonderful initiative. We also encourage those that have collected to plant and protect the seedlings and see it as their property. It is for the overall interest of the state economy.
“For sometime now, we have not witnessed this kind of fast response to campaign promises.Governor Soludo promised us massive agricultural revolution and before six months in office,he has achieved that by introducing this palm and coconut seedlings”
On his part, the Supervisor of Agriculture, Anambra west Local Government Area, Hon Okechukwu Okechukwu, enumerated benefits derivable from the programme and pledged to provide the needed support services that would guarantee the survival of the seedlings in the area.
The Technical Assistant to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Ifeanyi Nwaegbo, appealed to benefitting communities to plant and nurse the seedlings to maturity using the regenerative agricultural policy of the state government.
He quickly added that the Ministry would soon commence inspection and monitoring exercise of communities, churches, schools and institutions that benefitted from the project to ensure full implementation and conformity to laid down standard.
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