Ugwuanyi’s administration has once again demonstrated his resolve to make food available to the teeming population of Ndi Enugu. From the ancient times, food, shelter and clothing has remained the basic necessity of every human. Every other desires have been secondary in nature. Over the years, there have steady quest by humans to zeal for this secondary necessities especially material wealth with the assumption that “wealth” leveleth all mountains including procuring food for human stomach.
Perhaps, the greatest irony of this perception about wealth is that though wealth may be able to buy all our needs including food crops for human consumption, but only to the extent of the availability of the food crops in question. This is because, there has been also a steady decline in interest towards agro based ventures by the upcoming generation who also see wealth acquisition not in the area of Agriculture but from some other mundane activities as an end in itself. The present generation has had to believe so much in blue and white collar jobs at the detriment of agricultural ventures. The attendant result of this misadventure is the acute shortage of food and food insecurity in our society today.
Conscious of the looming danger capable of wiping out humanity from the face of the earth if urgent steps are not taken to halt the obvious food insecurity, government all over have continued to restrategize to grow the economy through agro based ventures like crop farming, animal husbandry, fishery, poultry etc. Ugwuanyi’s administration insistence and doggedness to raise the consciousness of Enugu citizens in agricultural programs has been truly illuminating and should be commended.
Aside, reviewing the curricular of both the primary and post primary schools in the state to accommodate robust agricultural subjects in theory and practicals, governor Ugwuanyi has also extended these doggedness to sending several citizens to train in agro related ventures both within and without the state. The last outing where over 260 indigenes of Enugu went on the government bill to CSS farm in Keffi, Nasarawa state to acquire modern farming tech-knowhow is another case in point. It is often said in our local maxim that he who sends a child to catch the legendary “Nkapi” (the evil smelling pin mouth rat), must be ready to give such child some water to wash off the smell. Governor Ugwuanyi has not been seen to be lacking in this regard too. This he has done by providing soft loans to targeted and selected farmers who have shown the zeal to propagate agricultural ventures. At the last count, over 60 targeted individuals from Enugu have started receiving over two million Naira each as part of the loan deal from the World Bank Assisted Agricultural loan scheme to some targeted state which Enugu State is one of them courtesy of Ugwuanyi’s uncommon commitment to Agriculture.
While we all glorify in the above modest achievements in the Agricultural sector by the government of Ugwuanyi, more people and corporate institutions have had to tag Ugwuanyi’s efforts in this regard. The latest of such tagging is coming from the Catholic Diocese of Enugu whose Mary Agro Farms built in the heart of Udi town in Udi Local government Area is set to make the dream of providing adequate food for the teeming population in Enugu and environs a reality. Mary Agro Farms was established by the catholic church in Enugu to herald the end of era of sitting on the fence and doing nothing while criticizing and waiting for the government to provide everything including job and food. The catholic Diocese of Enugu must therefore be commended for taking the bull by the horn to help in the process of accelerating economic developmental strides of Ugwuanyi’s administration.
It is equally hoped that the incoming administration come 2023 would be able to sustain the tempo by providing level playing ground for ventures like this to thrive in order to ensure continuous food security for the teeming population. It is truly heart warming to hear from the Auxiliary Bishop of Enugu, His Lordship, Ernest Obodo while the Mary Agro Farm was being inaugurated and the first batch of trainees mentored in the facility were being rolled out that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Barrister Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has been a force to reckon with in the area of support for the farm as far back as 2018. Bishop Obodo was to reveal that Barr. Mbah was actually the first person to support the farm project when he used personal resources to sink the first water project in 2018. This is good to the ears given the fact that if by the grace of God, Mbah assumes power in 2023, he would surely look out for means to grow the economy of the state. Agricultural initiatives and ventures must be roundly supported by both government, individuals and groups such as the Catholic church in Enugu has done. We must fight food insecurity with our whole being believing that all other sorts of insecurities must surely die a natural death, so that humanity can regain its pride of place as ordained by God from time immemorial.
May God bless Enugu state, it’s people and government. May we continue to be in the best of His hands both now and ever, Amen…
Bibian Anekwe News added: “To be a good leader, help people acquire the skills they need to accomplish and become more qualified in their position or profession.”
Austin Okechukwu Chijioke.
Public Affairs Commentator.
Media Team Lead for ENUGU Di N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT.
www.bibiananekwe.com
