By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
The Anambra State government has targeted a whopping N160 billion from Oil Palm and allied products in the next three years.
The move is in keeping alive the agricultural policy and vision of then Governor of the defucnt Eastern region, Chief Michael Okpara, which is the initiative of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) government of Prof. Charles Soludo for massive agricultural production in Anambra’ state.
Also, the Soludo led Governemnt is currently embarking on irrigation programme of 10,000 Hecters of land aimed at boosting rice farming in Ifite Ogwari community in Ayamelum local government area of the state.
Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim represented Gov Charles Soludo at the 2023 launching of farming season with the theme: ‘Biological Farming; Nature’s Sustainability Solution, held on Thursday in Awka the state capital.
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He said that “Agriculture has a role to play in climatic change and without grown in agriculture the output in food production would reduce by 20 percent in the next ten years hence the need for improved food production.”
“I pledge to provide one million seedlings during my election campaign and I have commenced the planting and distribution of Oil Palm seedlings every year and you can agree with me what the multiplayer effects would be ”
“In the next few years or three years or so Anambra state would be making over N160 Billion from Oil Palm production which indeed would be a leap of our Internally Generated Revenue ”
He maintained that “Agriculture is a strong pillar in the development of the state and plays a major part in all fronts of the world.”
Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Forster Ihejiofor in his keynote address disclosed that the dredging of over 10,000 hecters Of land at Ifite Ogwari community in Ayamelum local government area is on to boost rice farming.
Ihejiofor noted that the dredging is to assist in the cultivation of rice adding that it would go a long way in assisting rice farmers on the area and beyond.
He reiterated “the importance of biological farming as a sustainable solution to our agricultural and ecological challenges even a he urged all farmers to embrace this approach as we work together towards a more resilient and sustainable agriculture sector.”
Headded that, “As we move forward in this farming season, I urge all farmers to embrace biological farming practices. This involves the use of biological inputs such as bio- complete compost, vermi- compost and microbial inoculants, which are derived from plants and animal recourses .”
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“It also includes multi- crop / livestock integration, cover cropping minimum tillage and the use of natural pest control methods such as the introduction of beneficial insects” he stated.
