It was a moment of joy for farmers in Arochukwu Local Government Area, LGA, as they had an interactive section with stakeholders in the Agricultural sector, in this year’s farmers conference.
The venue of the conference, Abia State College of Education Technical Arochukwu, was filled to the brim as who is who in Agricultural field, graced the occasion.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Whip/Senator representing Abia North in the Senate, Chief Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, lauded the sponsor of the conference, Hon. Dr. Mike Ukoha, for being so passionate about agriculture for the people of Arochukwu LGA.
He described him as a wonderful lawmaker who recognized the importance of Agriculture, because it is the way to go.
Senator Kalu, who was represented on the occasion by the Deputy Minority Leader/member representing Bende North State Constituency, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, urged the people of Arochukwu LGA, to join hands together with their son, in order to make Arochukwu an agricultural hub for not only Arochukwu, but Abia North and Abia State in general.
Speaking while welcoming the visitors, the Provost Abia State College of Education Technical, Arochukwu, Dr. Phillip Nto, who was represented by Mr. Ikechukwu Okorouga, expressed delight in the event and thanked the sponsor for being a friend of the farmers.
He said the school will continue to partner with whatever policies and programs the office of the Minority Whip will bring up, provided it will benefit the people of Arochukwu LGA.
In his speech, the sponsor and Minority Whip/member representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Hon. Dr. Mike Ukoha, thanked the farmers and resource persons at the occasion for finding time to come.
He explained that his love for agriculture made him to organize the conference in order to identify the needs of farmers and what can be done to improve their farming business.
The Lawmaker harped on the need for farmers to register their cooperatives with the Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development, stressing that he is delighted that FADAMA Project included Arochukwu LGA, as one of the local government areas that will benefit from their agricultural plans this year.
On her part, one of the co-sponsors of the conference, Barr. Mrs. Carol Okoroafor, encouraged the farmers to continue to do their best in farming.
She promised to always patronize rice farmers in Arochukwu LGA, by buying their produce in a bid to encourage them and thanked them for coming.
Also speaking, the representative from FADAMA Project office, Mr. Amarachi Kalu, told the farmers the importance of cooperative society, urging them to see agriculture/farming as a serious business.
He hinted that FADAMA has involved in providing inputs such as fertilizer, seedlings etc which has helped farmers greatly to improve, adding that as an agriculturist, record keeping is very important.
Another resource person from the National Roots Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Dr. Ann Kanu, explained that the essence of her visit is to observe what is going, saying that her team will come again to identify and teach farmers on how to add values to crops.
