REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
Farmers in different parts of Anambra State have started to enjoy the benefits of the huge investment of the federal government under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in the agriculture sector.
Among them are rice farmers in Ayamelum area of the state who can now cultivate and harvest rice three times a year.
This is because of the resuscitation of the Water Pumping station in Ifite Ogwari community and the completion of concrete canal along the Omor Umunbo Ifite Ogwari by the federal government.
Radio Nigeria Correspondent Uche Ndeke in this special report take a look at how the project has impacted on the economy of the area and renewed the interest of youths in farming especially rice production.
The federal government under the present administration has taken critical steps to boost food production, ensure the empowerment of farmers and reduce the cost of food items in the markets in the country.
In Anambra State, South East Nigeria , the government’s interventions in the agricultural sector are visible in the areas of agricultural Infrastructural development, financial support for farmers training of farmers on modern and latest food production and animal husbandry techniques and the provision of farm inputs.
Aside these initiatives Anambra state is among the states targeted for agro industrial hubs and Agricultural Transformation Centres .
Some of the outstanding interventions of the federal government in agriculture in Anambra State are the construction of forty- point -one kilometre concrete irrigation canal along some communities in Ayamelum local government area under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Programme and the revitalization of the moribund water pumping station at Ifite Ogwari and it’s handing over to the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project to boost all season farming especially the cultivation of rice and vegetables.
The Zonal Programme Coordinator of Agricultural Transformational Agenda Programme in the South East, Doctor Romanus Egba explained that with the completion of the projects, farmers in the Ayamelum area are expected to begin dry season cropping activities in over two thousand hectares of rice farmlands .
Dr Egba who spoke
through the Zonal Communication officer, Mr Sunday Obeche, said the federal government also executed other agricultural production support based projects in other food producing local government areas of Anambra State to encourage local farmers and ensure food security.
The traditional ruler of Ifite Ogwari the community where the water pumping station is located, Igwe Alphonsus Ofuebe while commending the federal government for the revival of the equipment expressed the hope that it will boost agricultural productivity and guarantee food security in the South East Zone.
A farmer , Mrs Stella Nneli remarked that the present administration of President Bola Tinubu has shown practical commitment towards encouraging local farmers across the nation.
She however pleaded for financial empowerment to boost their production capacity, buy farming equipment and inputs like power tillers ,herbicides and seedlings for better yield.
For her part, Mrs Edit Okonkwo said farmers in Ifite Ogwari and the neighbouring communities are expected to commence dry season farming of rice and other crops following the completion of the concrete irrigation canal along the Omor, Umunbo ,Ifite Ogwari axis.
A youth , Mr Chukwuma Nebolisa said that apart from enhancing the circle of rice farming annually the irrigation canal and water pumping station will also encourage farmers to increase the expanse of land they cultivate, thereby leading to food security
Mr Nebolisa also called on the government to strategies that will attract more young Nigerians to agriculture through the provision of soft loans and support in marketing their produce.
The federal government has also constructed morden markets in some communities in Orumba and other areas of Anambra State under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Programme,ATAPS-1 to provide strong marketing outlets for farmers and reduce the challenges they encounter in transporting their produce to urban centres for more income.
