June 7, (THEWILL)- The Imo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Chief Cosmas Madugba, has assured farmers of the State Government’s support to boost agricultural activities in the state.
Madugba, who disclosed this in Owerri on Friday, said Governor Hope Uzodimma has taken proactive steps to reduce the challenges being faced by farmers in the state and guaranteed the availability of food in the market for the people.
The Commissioner, who said the government is perfecting plans to address food insecurity and high prices of foodstuffs in the market, said when food items are available, their prices would definitely come down irrespective of the removal of fuel subsidy.
“We are concerned as citizens and as leaders. We have met with some groups of farmers in the State and are ready to provide certain materials they require in order to achieve bigger yields in their produce.
“Imo State is also providing bags of fertilizer, insecticides, herbicides and other farm implements that would reduce their pains and encourage them to take farming seriously.
“We know their predicaments and the government is not taking it lightly. We are ready to support them,” he said.
Madugba, who noted that the present administration has taken agriculture as a business, advised those in the sector to be proud of themselves, adding that the government is willing to provide for their needs.
The Commissioner also enjoined farmers in the state to be honest and make judicious use of the implements made available to them by the State Government.
He used the opportunity to disclose plans to have a comprehensive meeting with members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Imo State Chapter, to inform them of the government’s plans for them.
“There are lots of things the government is doing. Through the “Imo-Cares”, our Ministry has constructed roads in the rural areas, given out agro-inputs to farmers, built toilets and bathrooms in markets and others,” he stated.
He disclosed that the State Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has procured over fifteen thousand (15,000) bags of maize, free of charge, for Imo workers, adding that the distribution has been ongoing for the past two weeks.
The two-time Agriculture Commissioner also expressed joy over Governor Uzodimma’s victory at the court, attributing the outcome to his good work and urged those who could not make it now to wait for their time.
“I’m happy that the court has confirmed what His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma worked hard to achieve. He won outrightly in all the 27 LGAs,” he said.
He also warned against distracting the Governor whom he said has done well in the areas of agriculture, health, youth empowerment, and infrastructural development among others.
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