Written by Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha
Domesticating, practically, the call by the Imo State House Of Assembly (through a Motion he co-sponsored) that Agriculture should be made a priority, to avert catastrophic consequences, as a result of unprecedented high cost of food items in the market, and obvious lack of interest in agriculture and farming by a cross section of Imo citizens, the Member Representing Aboh-Mbaise State Constituency in the Imo State House Of Assembly, Hon Princewill Ugochukwu Amuchie has moved to make Aboh Mbaise local government area the food basket of Imo State.
In conjunction with MARTA FARM PROJECT (a farm establishment in Aboh Mbaise), Hon Ugochukwu Amuchie organized a one week training and empowerment workshop on Agriculture, codenamed, *IT'S FARM O'CLOCK* , for Aboh Mbaise indigenes, which took place between 11th and 15th March 2024, at the demonstration farm of MARTA FARMS.
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Over 250 indigenes of Aboh Mbaise, drawn from every Ward, participated in the workshop, and they were taught various methods and fields of agriculture especially, on the following :
1. Bee Keeping.
2. Fish Farming.
3. Maize Production.
4. Cucumber Production.
5. Poultry Farming.
6. Cassava Production.
7. Pepper/Tomato Production.
8. Ginger and Garlic Production.
9. And so on and so forth.
Addressing the over 250 indigent participants, the competent, proactive and vibrant Member for Aboh Mbaise State Constituency, who is also the Minority Leader of the State legislature, Hon Princewill Ugochukwu Amuchie, said he was driven by his passion and desire to turn the industrious and enterprising nature of Aboh Mbaise into a humongous and profitable agri-business venture, with its attendant multiplier effect on socio-economic development and sustainability of Aboh Mbaise, hence he has procured very large quantities of seedlings of various agri-farm produce for commercial farming in Aboh Mbaise, to geometrically boost food production and guarantee food security of Aboh Mbaise people, before exporting to other areas in the State and beyond.
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In his words, Hon Princewill Ugochukwu Amuchie, who is also the House Committee Chairman On Power And Water Resources, said, *"I have come for us to put heads together so as to solve the problem of high cost of food items in the society. I first beckoned on MARTA FARMS to partner with me, so as to make this vision of mass producing food a success. Let me also commend you, my constituents, for answering this clarion call to attend this workshop in agriculture. I assure you, every family in Aboh Mbaise will benefit from this initiative, when the benefits will start trickling down during harvest season. This is the first phase, and it will be a continuous exercise, until we become food sufficient, which ultimately brings down the prices of food in the market".*
Also speaking, the Member Representing Orsu State Constituency and House Committee Chairman On Agriculture, who was present at the workshop, Hon Engr Uche Francis Agabige, commended Hon Ugochukwu Amuchie for his wisdom and vision to revolutionize agriculture in Aboh Mbaise, pointing out that the initiative if vigorously sustained and replicated in every local government area in the state, would in no small measure assist in bringing down the high cost of food items in the market. The vibrant lawmaker assured that his Committee on Agriculture is working round the clock to ensure massive food production in this year's farming season, by collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and all related agencies of government.
Equally adding his voice, the Member Representing Onuimo State appreciated Hon Amuchie, saying that he has learned what he would take back to his constituency, promising to flag off similar program, for the benefit of his constituents in Onuimo.
In his speech at the workshop, His Grace Most Reverend Dr Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, thanked Hon Ugochukwu Amuchie for stepping out to show the way in food production, pointing out that time has passed when citizens concentrated on cultivating for family consumption. He called for commercial production of food, so as to bring down the high cost of food in the market. He further said, *"I will go back to replicate what I have learned from here. Where the Bishop resides should have a farm. We all should go back to farming, because it is a profitable venture. A tree of Bitter Kola, with its fruits, is about N2,000,000. I am impressed with the high number of people participating in this workshop".
He also advised on the timing of planting each of the seedlings, stating that planting at the wrong time brings low harvest, while planting at the right time guarantees bountiful harvest.
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One of the participants, Mr Peter Onyenakazi, from Mbutu Ward, thanked the Honourable Member for his foresight in initiating and organizing the workshop, promising that all the participants will utilize the knowledge gained from the workshop and use it to fully go into farming, for the benefit of Aboh Mbaise.
Reverend Father Pius Ibeawuchi, as the proprietor of the farm , expressed satisfaction that the over 250 participants learned a lot and are ready to demonstrate it in the 2024 farming season.
In his vote of thanks, the Auxiliary Bishop of Ahiara Diocese, Most Reverend Dr Simeon Okezuo Nwobi, expressed gratitude to Hon Ugochukwu Amuchie for doing what other political leaders stay away from doing.
He said, *"Most elected leaders are not accountable to the people. They prefer to recoup their campaign and election expenses, rather than carrying out community and people-oriented programmes and projects. We are grateful to Hon Princewill Ugochukwu Amuchie, and we pray to have leaders with similar mindset. I equally congratulate the participants for attending the workshop".
- Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha is an Imo State based media consultant, political analyst and social critic.
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