Commissioner advocates increased investment in agric to boost food security in Imo
NAN-H-69
Agriculture
By Ugonne Uzoma
08065838963
Owerri, Jan. 31, 2018 (NAN) Imo Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mrs Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro, has called for increased investment and development of agriculture to enhance revenue generation and food security.
Nnanna-Okoro made the call during a meeting with representatives of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in Owerri on Wednesday.
The commissioner urged Imo residents to invest in agriculture to boost the economy of the state.
She reiterated the importance of investing in mechanised commercial agriculture in growing the economy and commended Gov. Rochas Okorocha for encouraging civil servants to invest in agriculture.
“It is necessary for us to invest in mechanised agriculture to enable faster growth of the economy;
“More developed countries that are endowed with oil deposits also invest in agriculture and other revenue sources.
“I salute late Dr Michael Okpara for his agricultural initiatives and the vision of Gov. Okorocha who encouraged civil servants to be more involved in agriculture by giving workers two days off every week for farming,” she said.
The commissioner also stressed the need for functional agricultural cooperatives and public, private partnership in the agriculture sector for improved productivity.
She added that the state government would allocate lands where necessary to ensure that the production of rice, maize, vegetables, cassava, cashew and palm products were increased in the state.
Nnanna-Okoro said preservation and exportation of agricultural products had continued to be a major challenge to farmers.
The commissioner added that the Federal Government had constructed silos in Okigwe Local Government of the state to combat the problem of storage.
She also called for synergy between the ministry and the council.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Irene Chima, said the state was well equipped to produce enough agricultural products for consumption and exportation.
Earlier, Mr John Okorie, who led the council delegation, expressed their readiness to partner with the state to improve revenue generation.
Okorie said the mandate included the formation of cooperatives with a view to harnessing value chains of Cashew, Palm Oil, Cassava and Pineapples.
He also noted that the state could generate as much as N10 million from just pineapples every planting season.
The NEPC representative disclosed that the council had formed a state committee on export promotion with the ministry as a statutory member. (NAN)
UOI/OFN/MNA
Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Maureen Atuonwu