…partners youth, women farmers on aggressive farming, food security
As part of efforts aimed at tackling hunger and food insecurity in the State, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has entered into partnership with Anambra farmers with a view to engaging in aggressive and comprehensive farming practices and agricultural production, launching a ‘Farm To Feed Campaign’.
The Farm to Feed Initiative, according to an official statement, is aimed at encouraging and mobilising Anambra citizens, eapecially the youths and women, to venture into farming in order to boost both food and cash crops production in the State.
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Flagging of the Farm to Feed Campaign at a farm in Amansea, the Awka North Local Government Area of the State at the weekend, Governor Soludo, said the initiative was one of the positive steps to move the State and country forward in the areas of agriculture and agribusiness.
“We are here as part of our own response to the issues surrounding hunger. While others in some places are protesting, Anambra state is not protesting. I want to thank our youths and everyone who are going about their businesses. We are here to take positive steps to move the state and country forward.“Our people are not participating in the protest, not because they don’t feel the pain, but because they want to be part of the solution. The youths want to embrace their destinies and I want to commend you for that. This is citizens’ action against hunger in partnership with government. We want to turn our challenges into opportunities,” Soludo said.
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The governor recalled that his Administration had distributed over one million palm and coconut seedlings with a target of ten million seedlings production and distribution to farmers before the end of his Government.
“The farm to feed campaign is a simple partnership deal to end hunger within the next 12 months. The citizens have a lot to do, including public servants. The only job allowed by the constitution for public servants is farming,” he said.
He recalled that 40 years ago, the late Sunny Okosun sang a song entitled; “Which way Nigeria”, where he noted that Nigerians had been singing songs of lamentations for decades, saying “it is now time for action.
“In that song, Sunny Okosun sang that every little thing that goes wrong, people blame the government. Let’s turn farming and agriculture as the new national pride. I agree there is hunger in the land…do something about it.
“If everyone starts producing, the pressure on food prices will reduce. Turn every vacant piece of land to farm, rent a space if you can, but plant something. Here in Anambra, we will continue to do more.”
He expressed readiness to collaborate with organisations and work out schemes, saying soon his Administration would celebrate the farm champions.
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“Local Government chairmen, churches, and other stakeholders should take the campaign down to their people. Ndị Igbo aren’t protesting because they believe in hard work.
“We’ve seen far worse conditions before, but we are resilient people, and by a dint of hard work, we shall prevail. Let us get to work, every citizen, one at a time, protest, but be the change you desire,” he noted.
Earlier, Forster Ihejiofor, Commissioner for Agriculture, expressed elation at the event and the governor’s zeal of thinking through the challenges of the times, that was in line with the solution agenda.
“His mind is at work. This is a progressive idea for ndị Anambra and the nation that will bring comfort to the hardship”, he noted.
