Imo:Lawmaker Empowers Over 250 indigenes in Farm Production …Plans to make Aboh Mbaise Food Basket of Imo State

Emmanuel lkpeama.

The Member Representing Aboh Mbaise State Constituency in the lmo State House of Assembly,Hon Princewill Ugochukwu Amuchie has reiterated his commitment in ensuring that his constituents experience the dividends of good representation,has moved to make Aboh Mbaise local government the food basket of lmo state.

Addressing over 250 indigent participants, the vibrant lawmaker,stated that he was driven by his passion and desire to turn the industrious and enterprising nature of Aboh Mbaise into a humongous and profitable agri-business venture.

He went further to state that as a result of the unprecedented high cost of food items in the market and obvious lack of interest in agriculture and farming by a cross section of lmo citizen,he has procured a very large quantities of seedlings of various agric- farm produce for commercial farming in Aboh Mbaise,to geometrically boost food production and guarantee food security for Aboh Mbaise people, before exporting to other areas in the state and beyond.

Hon Amuchie who is the Minority leader and House committee chairman on Power and Water Resources noted that the initiative which is in conjunction with Marta Farm Project would witnessed over 250 indigenes drawn from every ward being taught on various methods and field of agriculture such as Bee Keeping,Fish Farming, Maize Production, Cucumber Production, Poultry Farming, Cassava Production, Pepper/Tomato Production, Ginger and Garlic Production, participating in the workshop.

In his words”I have come for us to put heads together so as to solve the problem of high cost of food items in the society. I first beckoned on MARTA FARMS to partner with me, so as to make this vision of mass producing food a success. Let me also commend you, my constituents, for answering this clarion call to attend this workshop in agriculture. I assure you, every family in Aboh Mbaise will benefit from this initiative, when the benefits will start trickling down during harvest season. This is the first phase, and it will be a continuous exercise, until we become food sufficient, which ultimately brings down the prices of food in the market”.he submitted.

Lending his voice, the Member Representing Orsu State Constituency and House Committee Chairman On Agriculture, Hon Engr Uche Francis Agabige, commended Hon Ugochukwu Amuchie for his wisdom and vision to revolutionize agriculture in Aboh Mbaise, pointing out that the initiative if vigorously sustained and replicated in every local government area in the state, would in no small measure assist in bringing down the high cost of food items in the market.

The lawmaker assured that his Committee on Agriculture would work round the clock to ensure massive food production in this year’s farming season, by collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and all related agencies of government.

Earlier,In his speech at the workshop His Grace Most Reverend Dr Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, thanked Hon Ugochukwu Amuchie for stepping out to show the way in food production, pointing out that time has passed when citizens concentrated on cultivating for family consumption.

The cleric called for commercial production of food, so as to bring down the high cost of food in the market.
He further said, “I will go back to replicate what I have learned from here. Where the Bishop resides should have a farm. We all should go back to farming, because it is a profitable venture. A tree of Bitter Kola, with its fruits, is about N2,000,000. I am impressed with the high number of people participating in this workshop”.he stated.

He also advised on the timing of planting each of the seedlings, stating that planting at the wrong time brings low harvest, while planting at the right time guarantees bountiful harvest.

One of the participants, Mr Peter Onyenakazi, from Mbutu Ward, thanked the Honourable Member for his foresight in initiating and organizing the workshop, promising that all the participants will utilize the knowledge gained from the workshop and use it to fully go into farming, for the benefit of Aboh Mbaise.

Reverend Father Pius Ibeawuchi, the proprietor of the farm , expressed satisfaction that the 250 participants has learned a lot and are ready to demonstrate it in the 2024 farming season.
Highlight of the event was the distribution of the farm seedlings to all the participants.