Ebonyi State inaugurates one-man, one hectare agriculture empowerment programme

The agricultural youth empowerment of one-man, one hectare programme of  Ebonyi  has offered its teaming youths opportunity to created sustainable wealth and self development, the State Governor, David Umahi says.

The Daily Times reports that the novel and attractive agricultural employment window was developed by the state government to woe most youths back to the land

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh late Monday inaugurated the programme considered as one of  Umahi administration’s   packages to leverage the economy of the state.

Ogbeh who commended the state government for focusing on its agricultural potential pledged Federal Government’s support toward programme.

“We are going to bring machinery here. We hope that before we round up,there will be a major industrial starch plant in this state. We also believe that we will  let you have some cassava flour processing plants,especially  for cassava, fufu ,very nice food to eat.

“We shall bring you another crop,cashew nut, because the demand for cashew nut in the  international market is high.

“You are famous for rice production,but you are going to be more famous when we bring our programme for implementation.

“Today, I assure you that  we shall join hands with you to make your rice production plan  work. We shall make sure you get the best seed,especially,the F.44. It is about the national standard we have because in Nigeria today,there are over 70 varieties of rice. We cannot grow all.”

The minister, who also promised to bring rice harvesters and threshers to the state, also commended Umahi for his robust agricultural programme,especially the  one-man,  one-hectare policy.

Challenging politicians and civil servants to have a second address in agriculture, he said that   poverty in the country was not acceptable.

He explained that there was hunger in the country today because Nigerians had been lazy in the past by focusing on oil and importation of everything, including toothpicks.

“What your governor is doing is going to be strongly supported by us. We shall support you with good seeds. And before the year runs out,before the rice harvest,we shall bring in small machines to help you harvest your rice. And for those of you civil servants,politicians and so on going to agriculture,please,take it a business seriously.”

Umahi had earlier said that the agricultural programme was aimed at ensuring food security for the state and the country.

He said his administration had among others, procured   40  tractors,distributed  farm seedlings and gotten soft loans for  genuine farmers in the state.