November 22, (THEWILL) – One of the major focus of the present administration in Akwa Ibom State is agricultural revolution, which would ensure food sufficiency in the face of dwindling economy in the country. The state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has said in several fora, that his administration is willing and ready to partner with key players in the global agricultural sub-sector to achieve the goal.
In taking steps to consolidate on the drive, each Local Government Area in the state has been mandated to donate at least 50 hectares of land, which is to be used as farm settlement for cultivation of food crops and other agricultural activities.
A chat with Udeme Utip, the Chairman of Itu Local Government Area, Hon. Barrister Etetim Onuk, reveals that the council areas in the state are excited and ready to partner with the State Government in the revolution which according to him, is of immense benefits to the Grassroots communities.
Excerpts:
The governor is harping of agricultural revolution and you as Heads of Council Areas have been mandated to donate vast expanse of land in your domains for that purpose. How well do you understand the policy?
The Agric Revolution is part of His Excellency’s ARISE Agenda. This issue of creating Agric development centers had been the vision of the governor even when he was the commissioner for lands. I remember in one of our meetings, he addressed us and requested that each local government should donate at least fifty hectares of land and as a Local Government Area, we had to key into that vision.
Through out that period, there was no actualisation if the vision until he became the Governor and that issue of the Agric Development Centres came up again and it became a much more mandatory directive by the State Government that each local government, should give at least 50 hectares is of land towards that project.
At the last meeting, about eleven Local Government councils had already donated that land to the state government for the Agric project. The essence of it, is to ensure that the Shanghai agricultural model is replicated in each of the Local Government Areas.
Some indigenes of the state are undergoing training to understudy the model as we speak, Shangai Farm is in Owerri. I’m aware that Akwa Ibomites are more than fifty undergoing the training currently and some persons from Itu, are part of the training.
As a Local Government, Itu decided to key into it. Already, we have identified a land for that project. We have done the survey sketch and we are in the process of having an MOU, with the communities whose land have been taken. As soon as that is done, we will give right of occupancy to the state government as our own allocation to the state government for that project.
Yes, the question is, what are the terms? I think the major thrust of the project is to apply the local content policy. In other words, it’s going to generate employment, development and then the government is also going to bring about some infrastructure within the farm. So, the primary aim is to ensure massive food production and also generate employment to the people. Certainly, if a farm like that is established in Itu Local Government, the indigenes will be the first to be considered for employment except in areas where special expertise is needed. Those undergoing the training at Shanghai Farm will be the ones supervising the Agric project in the local Govenment. On the issue of what products to raise there, I think it will be left for the Ministry of Agriculture to decide. For instance, if they come to Itu and test our soil and see that it is suitable for cassava, that is what they will plant. The same goes for other places, with other products. They are going to carry out soil tests to ensure that they plant the crops suitable for each location.
So, I think it is a wonderful idea, an idea that is going to ensure food security. It is going to put food on the tables of Akwa Ibomites. Imagine how it would be like to have 31 such farms, one in each local government area. I think the famine we’re going through will be a thing of the past, by the grace of God.
Does this mean the crops will be processed and sold to the people within the respective LGAs?
Yes, the crops will be processed there. Like I said, it’s going to be a full farm settlement. Government will bring all kinds of equipment that will help in processing the food x crops that are being raised. It is going to be a full integrated farm scheme.
Normally, the people in the Area will be the first beneficiaries of whatever is produced. That’s why I am saying that, it is going to bring about food security, employment, development of those areas in terms of infrastructure and other welfare services that the government will produce. For the issue of security, farms would be fenced round to ensure that they are safe from intruders and trespassers.
The land you are in question, originally belongs to people: what is the reactions of the owners of such expanse of land towards the idea?
Yes, infact, for instance in the case of my Iocal Government, when we introduced the project to the communities and informed them of the land we feel we should use for the project; they were so happy and elated. They also weighed the benefits they are going to enjoy.
As a Local Government, have you doing anything to ensure security and continuity?
Like I said, this farm is going to be managed by experts, not lay men. It is not going to be a one-off thing; continuity and sustainability is ensured.
For the government to put in so much money; from fencing to planting, they must have good ideas to ensure that there is sustainability and make sure that the project stands for years, as long as the Land remains and is fertile for the purpose it was meant for.
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