The traditional ruler of Oriendu autonomous community in Abia State, Phillip Ajomiwe, has said mechanised farming is the solution to food security in the South East zone, and has solicited governments’ support for farmers.
The monarch stated this while taking some stakeholders in agriculture which included those from Delta State round his cassava processing plant in Umuahia North local government area of the state.
“We need the governments to support us with mechanised farming equipment, quality extension services and inputs such as fertilizer, herbicides and improved high yielding seeds to succeed,” he said.
He also underlined the importance of road infrastructure development, quality social services, modern preservation and storage facilities to eliminate post-harvest loses.
The owner of De- Philajoms Agro and Allied Industries Nig Ltd maintained that such support would go a long way to ensure food security and create employment opportunities.
As a former best farmer award-winner in the state, he said provided with needed support and incentives, farmers in the zone can also produce crops grown in the northern part of the country.
“Our northern counterparts are ahead of us because of the support they are receiving from their states and the federal government. With this they have gone far in mechanised farming,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to the current administration in the state for its support for farmers.
The leader of the stakeholders from Delta State and the chief executive officer of Agro Vamas and Logistics Nig. Ltd, Mr Maxwell Awah, said they were impressed with the standard of the plant.
Awah, who came with a truckload of cassava tubers to the plant for processing, stressed the benefits of using organic fertilizer, saying it is healthier, more economical, easily available and environment-friendly.
