….Sues for Support from Corporate Bodies, Individuals
By: Tochi Onyeubi
Owerri West Traditional Prime Minister, TPM Dr. Kelechukwu Okere MD, has advised his people in Owerri west to return to subsistent farming, while calling on corporate bodies and individuals to support farmers in the local government.
He gave the advice in view of the harsh economic realities in Nigeria and the looming fear of food scarcity.
The representative of the people noted that, farming used to be the mainstay of the local government 20-30years ago, but times have changed and there is an unwillingness to go back to farming, which he attributed to probably inability of proceeds from farm produce catering comprehensively to family needs.
He also noted that another reason could be that, people do not have lands to farm, adding that, in western countries, a lot of investments are made in Agriculture, because they realize it can sustain a nation.
Dr. Okere emphasized that tertiary institutions in Owerri west especially, FUTO have held lands of original owner’s hostage and hunger is ravaging these communities. He maintained that the people should be allowed to farm on their lands. While not going into land ownership politics, he stressed that these lands are lying fallow and can be put in judicious use by farmers in Owerri west, pending when they are needed by the school.
He called on the Imo state government to sit up on her responsibility in ensuring food production by putting in place basic amenities like good roads, security and supporting farmers with agricultural incentives like fertilizers and tools.
The Nigeria born, American medical doctor, pointed out that community roads leading to Emeabiam, Okolochi and Eziobodo are impassable as agriculturist communities, making it difficult to access bigger cities where their local produce can be sold.
He called on corporate bodies especially those doing businesses in the local government, to consider it as their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), to organize agricultural schemes and events that will encourage the people to adopt an all-encompassing approach to agriculture, while also appealing to well-meaning individuals in Owerri west to support farmers, adding that government cannot do everything.
TPM Okere maintained that the way out of the looming food crisis is to return back to farming, that way, the people can sustain themselves.
