By CHINYERE Nnaemeka
Envisaging the way the prices of food items are skyrocketing in Nigeria, the Imo State House of Assembly members following the motion moved by Nkwerre representative, Hon. Chisom Ojukwu, have urged Governor Hope Uzodimma to make Agriculture a priority in the state in other to increase the food reserve in Imo.
To that effect as part of the prayer of the motion, they called on the governor to immediately direct the Ministry of Education to ensure that demonstration farms is restarted in the various Primary and Secondary schools in the State.
They also urged for the Ministry of Agriculture to be directed to immediately interface with the local farmers across the State, seek ways to improve on farming, and providing necessary logistics to them such as grant seedlings, manure etc;
They further called for the reactivation of Imo Marketing Board in other to ensure their continued support to Imo residents through storage, distribution of food items and commodities in order to increase the food reserve and ultimately alleviate the suffering of the people, among others.
The motion which was presented before the House on Tuesday by the Nkwerre lawmaker, Ojukwu, and was seconded by Orsu lawmaker, Rt. Hon. Francis Agabige also urged for the governor to direct the relevant Agencies and Ministries to look into the Rubber Plantations in Imo State in order to ensure they are working optimally to increase production.
This the motion stipulates will boost employment, and generate more revenue for the State.
The need for the Avutu Poultry in Obowo to be revamped was also requested as one of the ways to prioritize agriculture in the State
Speaking on the motion, the Nkwerre legislator averred, “The global food crisis in the country cannot be overemphasized as the prices of food items like garri has tripled. Urgent steps need to be taken to tackle this challenge, and one of this steps, is to bring back demonstration farms in our primary and secondary schools so our children will begin early to cultivate the habit of farming.
“Everyone need to utilize every fallow piece of land around them by going into agriculture, and the farmers on the other hand should be given grant and seedlings at subsidized rates to fully go into agriculture, as agriculture is one of the key sectors of the economy that plays a vital role in providing food security, nutrition and livelihoods to a large proportion of the populace. It also contributes significantly to the growth in employment, foreign exchange earnings and value added production.
“Agriculture use to be the main stay of the Imo State economy, for there are arable lands across the three Senatorial Zones, 10 Federal Constituencies, 27 Local Government Areas and 305 Wards in the State.
“Our Primary and Secondary Schools in the State use to have demonstration farms, and our teachers, including students used to be interested in Agriculture but today, there’s an obvious lack of interest in Agriculture and farming.
“The lacuna created in not participating in Agriculture and farming gave room for most of the Agric and Farm Produce to be imported into the State from other parts of the country, which has led to prices of food items skyrocketing in the state, because of the landing cost of the items from other States. This is negatively affecing our people.
“If Agricuiture is not immediately made a priority in our dear state, the consequences would be catastrophic leading to wide spread famine, diseases and societal collapse because a hungry man we say, is an angry man, ‘Ojukwu averred’.
Speaking in favor of the motion, Hon. Francis Agabige (Orsu lawmaker) appreciated the lawmaker for coming up with the motion, saying it is timely looking at the economic situation of the country.
He continued,” the importance of agriculture cannot be overemphasized, and so I urge us all to follow suit in the practice of agriculture, as it is the sure bet for survival.
Adding his voice, the Ezinihitte legislator, Hon. Henry Agbasonu reiterated that the solution to the present food scarity and inflation in Nigeria today is agriculture, adding that it will serve as an alternative means of boosting our economy along side the natural resources; crude oil we have.
Other members who followed suit in supporting the motion are Rt Hon. Dominic Ezerioha (Oru West) and Rt. Hon. Johnson Iheonukara Duru (Ideato South).
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