REPORTER: CHIKA KENNETH-ESONWUNE
The proposed agro mechanisation programme of the South East development Commission,SEDC for states in the region is gaining momentum.
The Executive Director,Natural Resources,Agriculture and Rural Development,SEDC,Dr Cliff Ogbede stated this during an inspection visit to Orumba and Ayamelum Local Government Areas in Anambra state with a team from the state ministry of Agriculture.
According to Mr Ogbede,the visit was to explore the agricultural potential of the state preparatory to the proposed agro mechanisation programme that will benefit rural farmers and usher in a new era of prosperity for the zone.
“We are currently in Anambra conducting mapping, site inspection for our proposed agro mechanization program which we want to do with the state governments in the region.
The Executive Director further explained plans by the commission to attract investors to the region while creating a conducive environment for commencement of the programme.
“We have some investors who really want to come to the region and bring agricultural mechanization program to the region, but we want to make the business bankable for them so that they will see the region as investment ready.
” So,we are here for a first hand inspection of the facilities that the state government has proposed to us. We will take our report back to the technical team of the SEDC. And move forward by engaging the Ministry of Agriculture for us to find a common ground.
” We have conducted this exercise in Enugu and Abia States. We wrote to the Governors demanding at least 10,000 hectares in each of the states.We are quite intentional about what we want to do in agriculture” Ogbede said
Earlier,the State commissioner for Agriculture,Dr Forster Ihejiofor while commending the SEDC for the visit assured of the state government’s support for the programme.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary,Mrs Ifeyinwa Uxoka,the Commissioner expressed optimism that Anambra will be among the first batch of states in the zone to benefit from the agro mechanisation programme.
“We are in need of things like this, having gone to Orumba and Ayamelum areas and there are many more awaiting development and mechanization. People are hungry for this and I know if it comes,we will accept it with open hands”
A stakeholder in the sector and guide to the SEDC team during their visit to Omor and Ifite Ogwari communities,Mr Joseph Okonkwo expressed hope that the rich agricultural areas and leading producers of Rice in the state would do well in the mechanized agricultural programmes.
