Chief Sunny Afurobi
Abia Mayor unveils plans to boost agriculture
The Executive Chairman and Mayor of Umunneochi local government area of Abia State, Chief Sunny Afurobi, plans to boost agriculture and food security in the local government by building a cashew processing plant as well as establishing mechanization and commercialization of agriculture.
Umunneochi is blessed with vast cashew plantation, among other cash crops and minerals resources, which has been left to rot away.
Receiving Members of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Umunneochi chapter, in his office, Chief Afurobi who is a renowned Commercial Farmer, listed other measures through which he plans to improve agriculture to include provision of farm inputs such as high-yielding seedlings, tubers and improved cassava stems, among others.
However, the Mayor told his visitors that their volume of production would guarantee the level of mechanization and processing plants that would be made available to each zone of the local government. He said that with the cooperation of the farmers, his vision would soon be a reality.
Chief Afurobi further called on all Traditional Rulers and Town Union Executives of various autonomous communities in the Council with expanse of farming lands to show commitment by donating their lands on lease for Mechanized Commercial Farming purposes in this period of planned Agricultural Revolution.
He also encouraged farmers to learn more modern techniques that would assist in boosting food production and engaging in all-year-round farming to create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths.
The Umunneochi LGA helmsman assured members of AFAN of his administration’s readiness to support and partner with them to guarantee food sufficiency in the coming years, explaining that his desire was to ensure food safety in all parts of the local government.
Chief Afurobi used the forum to seek their continued support for the Dr Alex Otti-led administration, which, he said, has positively changed the developmental narratives of the state.
Earlier, the Chairman All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Umunneochi Local Government Area Chapter, Mr Onyekwere Emeka Justice, had commended the agricultural initiatives of the Dr Alex Otti administration and for registering numerous interested Abians in AFAN.
Mr. Justice used the event to request the Council boss to be their Patron, as that would give greater impetus to the activities of their Cooperative Society in the local government.
In a vote of thanks, the AFAN Public Relations Officer, Chief Sam Obiesie, pleaded with the Council’s Mayor to consider AFAN members in his future appointments in the agric sector.
