From Chijioke Attah, Nsukka
The Chairman Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, Dr. Eric Odoh, has pledges his total commitment to agricultural revolution in the area.
Speaking during a visit to the farmer who harvested the single largest tuber of yam ever in the OGA, Chief Michael Unodiaku, at Ukehe, Dr. Odoh commended the farmer for his resilience and doggedness that resulted in the record-breaking harvest.
The Chairman promised to support the farmer with tractors and other farm inputs in the incoming planting season to ensure that he emerged the highest farmer in that sector, not just in the LGA but in the state and nationally.
According to him, the council area had set aside some hectares of land for commercial agricultural purposes, ranging from tomatoes, pepper, yam, cassava to benny seed.
This, he maintained, was the only way to combat hunger and provide employment across board to the teeming unemployed population in the country.
He stressed that “if you want to eradicate poverty and create employment, you have to embrace agriculture. Anybody who has passion for farming and agriculture has as found favour in my administration”.
The council according to him, has cast arable land capable for producing food for the entire state and beyond.
Odoh explained that the local government’s agricultural policies were in tandem with Governor Peter Mbah’s agricultural revolution programme for the state.
Earlier in his speech, Chief Michael Unodiaku, expressed gratitude to the council chairman for finding time to come and unveil the “wonder yam harvests”.
He explained the tuber of yam was planted like every other one, not knowing that the harvest will put him in national limelight.
The multi-sector farmer who also engages in piggery, livestock, tomatoes and pepper farming, pleaded for government support and subsidies for tractors and other farm inputs to encourage more people to go into farming.
He assured the council chairman of effective utilization of whatever for of assistance the council area would provide.
The local government boss later unveiled the tuber of yam which weighed 107 kilogrammes.
The event was witnessed by the traditional ruler of Amakofia-Ukehe autonomous community, Igwe Ogili, the Okeife of Amakofia amongst other.
