Enugu governor, Dr Peter Mbah has reiterated his administration’s commitment to eliminating poverty, and increasing the GDP of the state, as well as creating jobs through agriculture.
Governor Mbah made the assertion on Tuesday at the ministry of agriculture, in an event to commemorate the “World Food Day” with the theme: “Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind”.
The 2023 World Food Day was marked on October 16, 2023, but observed by the Enugu state government on October 31, 2023.
Declaring the event open, the state governor, Dr Peter Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia who described the theme as apt, said it aimed to highlight the critical role of water for life on earth and water as the foundation of our food.
While acknowledging that Enugu State has agricultural products that have comparative advantage, the governor noted that the sector will become the state’s key economic enabler.
He emphasized the need to support agriculture in order to achieve food security, both for local consumption and exports.
Also the commissioner for agriculture and agro industrialization, Hon Patrick Ubro said the ministry has created awareness on the potentials that abound in Enugu state in the area of agriculture, as well as training the farmers on how to improve their productivity.
He further said the ministry has Introduced good seeds to farmers and has educated them on new agricultural practices that would enable them to know how to process their farm produce in order to end post harvest losses.
Expressing readiness to move from manual to mechanised system of agriculture, the commissioner noted that plans are underway to ensure that farmers in the state begin to use contemporary farming technologies for cultivation.
Also, the chairman house committee on agriculture, Hon Ejike Ezeh who acknowledged the importance of agriculture in the present realities, said the state house of the assembly committee on agriculture under his chairmanship would continue to support to move and support motions aimed at improving the living standards of the people through agriculture.
Hon Ezeh while commending governor Peter Mbah for his approach to people’s plights and leadership style, noted that the agricultural sector has all it takes to diversify the state economy and attain the state government’s goal of moving the GDP from its current status to 30 billion dollars.
The theme of this year’s World Food Day celebration, as promoted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO) which was held on October 16, 2023 beamed the spotlight on water as the foundation for life and food.
