Farmers in Anambra State have endorsed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the forthcoming general election, Mr Peter Obi and his running-mate, Dr Yusuf Baba-Ahmed Datti.
The farmers who operate under the umbrella, Innoscofarms and allied farmers, have also sent their members to other South East states, including Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo to sensitise and mobilise farmers to support the LP presidential candidate.
The coordinator of the group and chief executive officer of Innoscofarms and Agro Company Nigeria Limited , Mr Chinwuba Obiora told LEADERSHIP that when Peter Obi was governor of Anambra State, his administration gave boost to local rice farming, processing and consumption.
“Previous administrations before Peter Obi became governor in Anambra State were purchasing and distributing foreign rice to civil servants and other citizens within and outside the state as Christmas gifts, but, when Peter Obi became governor what he was distributing to everyone during Christmas were only local rice branded as ‘Anambra Rice.’
“Peter Obi government supported many rice farmers and processing industries like Coscharis Farms in Anaku, Ayamelum local government, Stine Industries in Nnewichi, Nnewi South local government which is involved in rice processing and several others in Orumba-North, Awka-North local governments. The government was purchasing their rice and distributing it to people and that way the government boosted the farming capacity of the rice farmers and industries.
“If you come to Anambra State today most families consume locally produced rice rather than foreign brands, and this is part of the big legacies Obi administration bequeathed to the state,” Obiora stated further.
He called on farmers in other geo-political zones in the country to join forces for Obi-Datti Ahmed presidential victory, stating that one of the common challenges facing Nigerians in every zone of the country currently is hunger and malnutrition.
Obiora said Obi has promised that his administration would give farming a boost if elected, adding that he was confident that Obi would not renege on it.