Anambra Govt Partners Fair World Farms In New Yam Planting Technology
Anambra State government is partnering Fair World Farms in the development of a new technology for planting of yam in the state. Governor Willie Obiano visited the farm which situates on over fifty plots of land at Umunnachi, Dunukofia Council Area where yams are grown in sacks.
The farm tour follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the state government and operators of the farm to produce seed yams for multiplication and distribution in the state.
Government House Correspondent, Ejike Abana reports that the process involves growing yams in bags periodically furnished with organic fertilizer, with thread stakes and pipe irrigation round the farm that engenders all year farming.
The novel method has potential to grow seven thousand yams within a plot of land.
The farm also deals in sour-soup, pawpaw, fishery, among others.
Speaking after the tour, Governor Obiano who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Nnamdi Onukwuba described it as a home grown initiative by onye Anambra who heeded the present administration’s Aku Luo Uno Call.
The Governor said that five hectares of land have been mapped out for the purpose of growing the seed yams with the target of making the state a base for yam seed production and possible export.
While stating that the initiative is akin to the Ugbo Azu Uno agricultural program, he restates need to train youths to adopt the method, just as he advised more youths to key into the various agricultural initiatives of his administration for wealth creation, expressing optimism that it will be replicated in the twenty one local government areas of the state in a short while.
The Proprietor of Fair World Farms, Chief Sunny Obichukwu said the dream started years back when he was living in Europe, adding that the desire became intense after Governor Obiano preached to them in the United States about the think home philosophy.
He said that growing yam in sack initiative solves and eliminates space, beetles and herdsmen problems and noted that the initiative will solve the problem of food insecurity.
Some people present at the tour expressed interests in the initiative, but asked government to expedite action on its part of the bargain to enable the Proprietor of the Farm fast track and give the initiative widespread push.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Mechanisation and Implementation, Mr. Paul Nwosu, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Stephanie-Kelly Uzo, among others were present during the tour.
