The Enugu State government, on Tuesday, urged all residents to go back to farm and cultivate any available space within their homes.
The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Patrick Ubru, appealed while flagging off the “Back-to-Farm” project of the Amurri Ancient Kingdom in Nkanu West Local Government Area.
Mr Ubru said the initiative aligned with Governor Peter Mbah’s administration’s focus on using agriculture for community agroindustrialisation, food security and employment for many youths and women in communities.
“As a government, we want what is happening today in the Amurri Ancient Kingdom to be replicated in every community in the state by traditional rulers and their cabinets taking the lead and driving the project.
“Every resident should fully get involved by planting crops or engaging in animal husbandry.
“Where you do not have a space, you can plant in bag sacks and plastic vases to get involved as all hands need to be on deck, especially in communities,” he said.
Mr Ubru, who planted some yam seedlings, said Mr Mbah envisioned cultivating over 300,000 hectares of arable land.
He said that through mechanised farming of extensive land by the state and its public-private partnership (PPP), it created massive employment in the state.
The commissioner revealed that the governor had ordered 1,000 tractors for the full mechanisation of farming and cultivation of over 300,000 arable hectares of land, thus, making agriculture a money-spinning business.
“We are planning to train hundreds of youths on modern Songhai farming this year even as we are going to train at least 20 youths from Amurri people, especially youths,” he said.
He thanked the people and its traditional ruler for taking the initiative, prioritising agriculture, and setting an example of how community projects could work.
Earlier, the traditional ruler of Amurri Ancient Kingdom, Charles Nwoye, said the yearly “Back-to-Farm” project had been an age-long practice of the kingdom to encourage and teach youths and children all about agriculture and its overwhelming benefits.
(NAN)