By Awesome Ekene
Over 1000 small holder farmers have been trained on organic farming practices in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The training was organised by Ogbaru Local Government, Ogbaru Economic Development Summit Team and Agric Development Think Tank Committee in collaboration with “She Grows Her Food Initiative”
The training tagged “Flag Off Of Dry Season Vegetable Farming Practices For Healthy Living, Poverty Reduction and Economic Transformation,also featured distribution of Okro,Maize, Cucumber and Gabbage seedings to the participants.
Speaking during the program held at Atani Demonstration Farm, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Ifeyinwa Uzoka, described the training as one of the outcomes of the Ogbaru Economic Summit held to drive economic prosperity in the belt and key into the developmental agenda of the Governor Soludo administration.
“We found out that it was very important to key into Mr Governor’s manifesto and vision which is to ensure that there is food all over and that the youths are well employed and their capacities built to ensure that food is being grown everywhere in the state.
“We said we have to harness the capacities of our trained youths, because it is our trained youths that went to Songhai and then make sure that they step this training down to all the local government areas,” she added.
Uzoka, who doubles as the Chairman Ogbaru Agricultural Development Think Tank Committee, explained that the state government is boosting dry season farming especially in flood prone areas.
She commended the partners for their support, noting that the program would also leverage on the opportunities provided by “Operation Farm To Feed” and “Healthy Living With Dr Mrs Nonye Soludo” campaign for organic nutritious foods.
Contributing, State Coordinator of She Grows Her Food Initiative, Mr. Linus Uhuo said they had earlier trained 89 youths at Songhai Farms who now serve as master trainers, training the over 1000 farmers in Ogbaru.
He said the training program aims at equipping the farmers with practical knowledge and techniques to grow crops organically utilising sustainable agricultural practices.
Uhuo, explained that enhancing the knowledge of the rural farmers would result in addressing issues of food insecurity and enhanced living,as it would also give them the knowledge on how to convert their organic wastes to manure
“We now want to encourage our women to help and provide food for themselves by cultivating at their backyard.We also teach women on how to generate their own organic fertilizers without waiting for chemical fertilizers.
“We started this by training our youths with the help of Songhai and Mastercards. These 89 youths from different parts of Anambra State were trained by Songhai on organic farming practices and other areas of agriculture”
He urged the women to form Cooperatives,to pave way for further trainings, provision of organic fertilizers at subsidize rate and other support services.
One of the master trainers, Mrs Blessing Ogene from Amii Community and a farmer, Mrs. Regina Oduenyi promised to make judicious use of the training and seedlings given to them to better their lives.
Others including Mrs Anastasia Uyanneh and Mrs Juan Ajei,commended the organisers of the program for availing them the opportunity of the training.
