By Onyekachi Eze
The Imo State House of Assembly Bill seeking for the establishment of Imo State Agency for Agricultural Research, Development, Demonstration and partnership, and for other connected purposes has passed its second reading at the floor of the House.
The private-member bill stands in the name of Hon. Barr Emeka Nduka, member representing Ehime Mbano in the State parliament.
It is aimed at ensuring food security through bio-technological research, revenue generation, and job creation in Imo State.
Leading the debate on Tuesday’s plenary session, July 13, 2021, Hon. Emeka Nduka pointed out the bill is aimed at ending seasonal planting in Imo State.
He said that when passed into Law, the State would have no reason to depend any longer elsewhere for food sufficiency, as through the irrigation system, variety of food items would be planted in the different zones of Imo.
Emeka Nduka who doubles as the Deputy Majority Leader of the Imo 9th House of Assembly cited the experience during the ENDSARS protest, where commodities like onions, cow meat, rice, were scarce.
On that note, he stated that if passed into Law, most of the hectares of Lands laying fallow across the State would be put into good use, for mechanized Agriculture.
He opined that through irrigation system, there won’t be any more need for rotational planting. Adding, he submitted that with the dwindling economy of the Country and with the drop in oil prices, only agriculture is the panacea.
Expressing optimism that the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma would embrace the bill and assent it into Law considering his love for people oriented bills and motions, Nduka reiterated that the State stands a chance of better survival and food safety.
Speaking about the relevance of research in the modern day agriculture, Hon. Nduka opined that the agency will be saddled with the responsibility of making research, development, and dissemination of results on agricultural practices.
According to the bill, some of the functions of the Agency when established are;
Seed multiplication resultant from Research and distribution of high yielding and early maturing crops, plants to farmers On reasonable costs; ldentification and resuscitation of all Agro Services Centres in the State and other abandoned Agricultural formations for full Commercial Agricultural food productions in the State; Full mechanisation and commercialisation of Agricultural operations for food production and distribution; Processing, Preservation and distribution of Agricultural products;
Export of excessive Agricultural products; Direct partnerships with bona fide farmers in the State for massive food production; Direct partnership with foreign investors in Agricultural sector in collaboration with ISIPA; Food production through Agricultural volunteerism and co-operative societies; Dry season/irrigation system cultivation and food production; Experimentation on fertilizer blending, in- organic and organic, through the use of local content; Experimentation on animal feed production, using local content.
Contributing, Honorables; Uju Onwudiwe (Njaba), Chigozie Nwaneri (Oru East), Obinna Okwara (Nkwerre), Johnson Duru (Ideato South), Ngozi Obiefule (Isu), Paschal Okolie (Orlu), commended the Chief sponsor of the bill for thinking deep and coming out with the bill.
They all agreed that agriculture is the only headway for economic sustainability.
In their respective assertions, they posited that through the research agency, it would dictate a particular place and zone to produce what, through which the State will be widely known for producing variety of foods, just as Ebonyi State is known for rice production.
They added that many of Imo youths are eager to venture into farming, but only needed support of the Government to thrive.
After the debate, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem constituted an ad-hoc Committee and to report back in the next two weeks.
The Committee is to be headed by Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins, and Hon. Samuel Ogbunikpa as Vice Chairman. Members are; Hons.; Chigozie Nwaneri, Solomon Anukam, Ngozi Obiefule.
