Anambra Farmers Get N21.7 Lifeline

The Anambra Government has launched the 2011 farming season with the distribution of N21.7 million credit to apex farmer groups.

Governor Peter Obi said at the launching in Awka that the money would ensure a viable private sector-driven agriculture in the state.

Obi noted that farmers were important elements to the vision of reducing hunger and extreme poverty in the country.

He expressed the commitment of the state government to agricultural development of the state.

According to him, his administration has created 2,000 jobs in the education sector and is targeting 1,000 jobs each in the agricultural sector and industrial sectors.

“The government is equally working on the construction of roads and bridges to provide access roads to farming communities.

“Our target is to ensure that youths in the state take agriculture as a career,” he said.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Godson Ezenagu, had advised farmers to avoid farming around flood prone areas due to the anticipated heavy rains expected this year.

Ezenagu said that the state government had procured 4,000 tonnes of fertiliser, tractors and a variety of improved seedlings as a demonstration of its commitment to assist farmers.

He said that the state government had also approved the distribution of fertiliser to farmers at 25 per cent subsidy, to make the products affordable and boost food production.