Emma Elekwa
Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have called on Anambra State Government to take decisive steps to enhance food security and availability as preparations for the 2026 crop season begins.
Addressing newsmen in Awka, the stakeholders suggested interventions ranging from farmers training, distribution of high yielding crop varieties and deployment of modern farming equipment.
According to them, other interventions include distribution of fruit tree seedlings, organic fertilizers and launch of year 2026 Farming Season to encourage people to venture into farming.
“We gathered that despite the state government’s assurances to provide support services, farmers across the state are anxious for full implementation of the blueprint for agricultural transformation,” they said.
An Agro Input Dealer, Emma Obi, while commending government’s efforts in the recent past, called for urgent provision of inputs and credit facilities to support farmers, especially those in food producing belts.
He further hailed the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)for its prompt intervention and support to cassava and rice farmers in the state.
Obi argued that the call became necessary to avert imminent flooding in the riverline areas as predicted by NiMET which could affect farm lands.
Planting early
Contributing, Uzoamaka Emeagwali and Patricia Uba, advised farmers to plant early so as to harvest early to beat the impeding flood as predicted by relevant agencies.
Programme Manager, Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) Godwin Akujieze encouraged farmers to always listen to the advise of extension service agents in their areas before planting.
He explained that the primary objective of the ADP to farmers was to give them technical assistance such as, advise on the varieties of cassava and maize to plant as well as preparing them for this rainy season.
The ADP Manager said the cassava elite varieties which farmers should plant included ,TME 419,TME 0505 and TME 0581,which were yellow cassava fortified with vitamin A.
According to him, farmers should plant Hybrid two and six maize which are the best varieties of maize.
Mr Akujieze stated that extension service agents were located in all the local government areas of the state, especially within the riverine areas.
He pointed out that each extension service agent was expected to have at least 80 contact farmers and therefore appealed to farmers to always consult them during farming.
The Agriculturalist emphasized that there had been a paradigm shift in the use of inorganic manure such as, chemical fertilizers to organic manure such as, poultry manure and composed manure which were natural.
He lamented that most of the diseases which people suffer arose from the use of inorganic fertilizer in farming.
The Programme Manager, however, noted that these varieties of cassava and maize would be made available to farmers during this farming season.
