Chinedum Elekwachi
Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr Somtoochukwu Udeze has distributed bundles of orange-fresh sweet potatoes and stalks to no fewer than 500 widows.
Orange-fresh sweet potatoes are a nutritious and versatile food source, offering various health benefits and nutritional value.
The widows from all the wards in Ogbaru Local Government Area were tutored by an expert on farming practices, value chains and health benefits of the crop.
At the flag off of the exercise in Atani, the Speaker, assisted by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Ifeyinwa Uzoka, said the initiative was aimed at making them self-sufficient in sweet potatoes production.
He urged to engage in massive plantation because its sustainability had high medicinal and economic value, compared to other crops.
Udeze admonished the widows to engage more in orange fresh sweet potatoes farming to improve production and support livelihoods in the communities.
He was optimistic that when done with good practices and efficient management, it could yield a significant income for economic sustainability of their families.
Speaking on the benefits of the crop, the Resource Person, noted that its production would bring more development to its value chains in addition to medicinal benefits.
He noted that the support received from the benefactor would encourage more farmers to embrace plantation of the crop in the area
Some of the beneficiaries pledged to make good use of the crop as the input would help them multiply their yields.
