Agriculture, our hope for survival, recovery from Covid-19, says Igwe

The people of Umunneochi were all smiles as they received the second round of palliatives from the Igwes of Amuda Isuochi in Umunneochi local government area of Abia State.

The relief items and medical equipment, jointly procured by a business mogul, Dr Chris Odinaka Igwe and the member representing Umunneochi State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Barr. Okey Philip Igwe, included 160 bags of 100Kg of rice, 2,100 alcohol-based hand sanitizers; including two cartons of facemasks donated by members of Harvard University Alumni Association who were Chris Igwe's classmates, as well as 300 bags of 50 Kg fertilizer.

Beneficiaries include Traditional Rulers in Umunneochi who got 30 bags of rice and additional N100, 000 cash, God's Ministers in the local government got 25 bags while the rest went to members of the Chrisnak Friends Club (CFC), a non-governmental organization which also smiled home with N130, 000 cash.

The 300 bags of fertilizer were shared among members of Umunneochi Agricultural Revolution (a.k.a Operation 10, 000 Farmers), an initiative of the lawmaker to encourage agriculture.

General Coordinator, Prince Chuks Madu, as well as Zonal Coordinators of Umunneochi Agricultural Revolution also known as Umunneochi Professional Farmers Cooperative Society Limited, including Prince Chigozie Igbo (Zone 1), Greene Chukwu (Zone 2) and Ugochukwu Okorie (Zone 3), alongside other few members were on hand to receive the commodity.

The palliatives were meant to cater for the welfare of the people in the ongoing Corona virus-induced lockdown and in support of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu's fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in Abia.

Handing over the items at the Nkwoagu Isuochi Council headquarters Saturday, Igwe noted that there was need to take proactive steps in boosting agriculture because of the post-Covid-19 economy has been shrouded in uncertainties.

"Due to the debilitating effect of Covid-19 pandemic on the economy, it has become highly imperative for all to return to agriculture. Indeed, the future adverse effects are projected to be much more dire.

"Having initiated Constituency farming as a most effective economic panacea pre-Covid-19, I hereby renew my call on all Umunneochi households to endeavour to get back to land this farming season in preparation for the coming harsher times,ÔÇØ said the lawmaker who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture.

Dr Ken Madubuike, who represented the donors at the event, said their gestures were to ensure that the people were protected and their future guaranteed.

He said the fertilizers were meant for genuine farmers who were determined to ensure the success of the back-to-land agricultural project of the lawmaker.

The highly elated Project Coordinator of Umunneochi Agricultural Revolution said the gesture by Barr. Igwe represents the typical encouragements farmers needed at this period to save the country from economic doom,ÔÇØ Madu said.

"We want to achieve food sufficiency in Abia State, our mission is to make umunneochi the food basket of Abia State. We don't have to continue depending on federal allocation before we can put food on our table. Our land is arable, productive; all we need is just encouragement and incentives and we will be able to deliver.

"This fertilizer will go a long way. Without fertilizers, we could be producing 10 tons, but with this fertilizer, be rest assured that by the end of this farming season, all roads will lead to Umunneochi for food because we are equal to the task,ÔÇØ Madu added while praising Igwe for his love for farmers and farming, adding that the Igwes have been providing palliatives for the people since the outbreak of Covid-19. He commended the Igwes for their love for Umunneochi people.

Other stakeholders, including a Senor Special Adviser to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Chief Amobi Ocho Mkpekere , the Deputy Transition Committee Chairman of Umunneochi local government area, Chief Chigozie Kingsley Igbo and the local government PDP Chairman, Richard Mbanefo Agbadogo, commended the Igwes for their gesture and warned beneficiaries of the fertilizer not t sell the commodity by apply it to their farms.

Chairman of Umunneichi Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Highness, Eze Jonathan Uka Obasi, the Obi 1 of Umuobi, said the monarchs were grateful for the donations extended to them and prayed God to enlarge the coast of the donors.

SPECIAL REPORT: From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia