From Maurice Okafor,Enugu
The Ala Igbo Development Foundation(ADF), a socio cultural group with serious emphasisi on gingering development accros Igbo land has floated a cooperative movement known as ‘Akuruo Ulo Cooperative Movement(ACM) through which Agriculture can be re invented in the South East zone of the country, as a means of ensuring the zone produces enough agricultural products to feed it’s population and beyond.
The President of Alaigbo Development Foundation(ADUF),Professor Uxodinma,Nwla,who spoke at the unveiling of the programme in Enugu yesterday, stressed the programme will entail acquiring land and atfracting investors while the ADF will monitor,coordinate and develop strategies for the development of the farms etc.
He fisclosed that a lot of Igbos in diaspora have already indicated interest to partner in the project.
Senator Sam Egwu who chaired the unveiling of the movement promised to train ten Youths,two from each of the five states in the zone who wish to make a living from agriculture in his private farm school based in Ebonyi state.
Egwu lamented that while he was governor of Ebonyi state,he had rolled out a massive mechanised agricultural programme fir the Youths in Ebonyi state to learn and practise but the Youths did not show keen interest. He lamented the Youths as at then were more interested in making quick money consrquent upon which the lofty dream died after his tenure as governor of Ebonyi state.
However,as a person who studied agriculture both in his first,second and third degrees,Egwu said he has never relented in practising agriculture ever since he left the university. He disclosed he is one of the greatest farmers across the South East zone,planting different kinds of crops and animal husbandry for the commercial market. He commended ADF led by Professor Uzodinma Nwala for re inventing agriculture in Igbo land.
In his own speech,another agriculturist,Professor Eugene Nwana said the greatest problem inhibiting the development of agriculture in the South East zone is the govsrnment wrong policy to usage of lands. He condemned the rate at which government authorities convert potential arable lands god for agriculture into housing estates .Then the farmers are left with the option of farming in poor fertile grounds.
According ti Professor Nwana,in reach Agricultural countries like the state of Israel,government first priority in every peace of land is it’s potency for agriculture.While the poor and infertile lands are considered for housing estates,the fertile lands are are either put into agricultural production or specially resrrved for such purpose.
Some of the Youths who spoke at the event said they are not averred from going into agricultural production but the facilities for mechanised agriculture they were taught to embrace are not available.The traditonal ruler of Ugbawka in Nkanu East local government area of Enugu state promised to lease out one thousand hectares of land for the commencement of ADF’s Akuruo Ulo cooperative farming.Nwala junior promised to freely donate one thousand palm seedlings to support the project.
Some other Youth farners attributed their setbacks to destruction of their farmlands by grazing cattles owned by suspected fulani herdsmen
