Thousands of Enugu farmers under the auspices of the Amalgamated Enugu State Farmers Association on Tuesday converged on the popular Michael Okpara Square, Enugu with a firm and unanimous declaration to vote massively for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi come 2019 general elections.
The enthusiastic farmers said that they were at the Okpara Square to celebrate as producers of food for the state and beyond as well as appreciate “the most farmer-friendly governor and pillar of development in Enugu State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi”.
Presenting their stance, the Chairman of the association, Mr. Romanus Eze, in his address on behalf of the farmers, commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for the tractors and other farming implements his administration presented to the farmers, stressing that the feat has gone a long way to increase food production in the state.
The farmers added that the governor’s commitment to the sector and the existing cordial relationship between them, the state government and allied agencies have “blossomed to a great height” and reduced the prices of food items in the market, saying: “A bag of 50kg Adani Rice now sells at N14,000.00 as against N18,000.00 before”.
The chairman disclosed that they were also impressed with the governor’s commitment to the wellbeing of the entire people of the state and his holistic approach to industrialization and urbanization through his administration’s rural development policy, provision of road networks, water and electricity, among other critical infrastructure, thanking him for “the 44,000 bags of lime given to farmers of Enugu State to improve our soil fertility”.
“Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as Governor of Enugu State has achieved so much in the past two and half years, considering the massive infrastructural development, extension of potable water, electricity including rehabilitation, equipment and staffing of educational and health institutions across more than 400 communities in the state.
“The presence of Your Excellency at this occasion is an eloquent testimony of the high regards he has for the farming population of Enugu State and clearly showcases your understanding of the fact that farming as a profession and vocation has the capacity to generate employment for the teeming population and grow our economy. Sir, we thank you so much and promise to vote for you come 2019”, the farmers declared.
In his remark, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Emeka Ede, stated that the rally was to pay a glowing tribute to the “amiable, indefatigable, unassuming and robust” governor of the state for the outstanding attention his administration has given to the agricultural sector, which he said has “significantly enhanced the interest of our people as entrepreneurs in agriculture”.
Hon. Ede disclosed that Gov. Ugwuanyi has engineered a new vista for development in the agricultural sector, through his “resolve to revitalize the once economic base of the east and create employment for the teeming populace of our state”.
He noted that the Ugwuanyi administration has remained committed to the numerous agricultural programmes, such as “APPEALS, AADS, ENUGU RICE PROJECT, OSE NSUKKA PROJECT, ANCHOR BORROWERS PROGRAMME, OIL PALM SEEDLING etc, expressing the resolve of his ministry to implement to the letter, the agenda of the state government on the sector for food security as well as the return of agriculture as a foreign revenue earner for the state.
Responding, Gov. Ugwuanyi thanked the farmers for their prayers, solidarity and support for his administration. While promising the farmers an “unprecedented” empowerment, the governor reassured them of his administration’s commitment to the success of their businesses in the state.
