Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia
Maize farmers in Abia State have clearly demonstrated that the South East could grow maize for commercial purposes.
The National President of the Association, Dr Edwin Uche stated this weekend in Umuahia when maize growers under the aegis of Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association, MAGPAMAN held its first mini Maize pyramid show with over two hundred bags of maize harvested by the farmers in Abia state.
Dr. Uche maintained that the major target of the association is to meet the increasing demand for Maize for domestic consumption and for export and advocated for contiguous farming System.
According to him, there should be a contiguous farming system whereby farmlands could be acquired by a group of farmers who are into the production of one farm crop as it would checkmate the activities of portfolio farmers as well as producing for commercial purposes.
“We are pushing for an economy that would be driven by the Agricultural Sector, for us it is very important and significant”
“Today, we are working on contiguous Farming System where farmers own farmlands of about 500-200 hectares, so that we can be able to monitor the activities of farmers as farming in individual farmlands is no longer fashionable”, he said.
Dr. Uche urged people of the South East to engage in farming as it is the solution to reducing poverty and increase food production, disclosing that the price of a tonne of maize has appreciated in recent time.
Earlier in his address, the state chairman of the association, Dr Clement Uhie said the mini pyramid show is the association”s modest efforts as first time maize anchor borrowers farmers, disclosing that despite all odds, the chapter was able to key into the project.
He said, “Indeed it is this reason that has brought us all together to celebrate this modest efforts of the national president”.
Uhie assured that the association is poised to change the notion that the South East does not plant maize in a commercial quantity, adding “commercial maize farming has come to stay in Abia State”.
In his brief remarks, the Central Bank of Nigeria Branch Development Officer in the State,Dr C. D.O Ogbuagu assured the farmers of CBN assistance, adding that the only criteria for the farmers to receive financial assistance would be evidence of availability of land, warning “Any farmer without providing land would henceforth not receive any financial assistance from CBN”
The acting Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Deacon Effort Nwankwo commended the association for exhibiting the farm yield through the mini pyramid show and assured of continued assistance from the state government.
