By Obi Onuorah
Enugu state government has declared its readiness to partner with the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program Phase-One (ATASP-1) to actualize dry season rice farming at Ada Rice Irrigation Project Scheme at Uzo-Uwani Local government area of the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization, Mr. Patrick Nwabueze Ubru, made the remarks while addressing Ada Rice farmers at Uwelu-Akpa Hall, Adani after an inspection tour of ongoing economic projects under ATASP-1 in the area.
The Commissioner, accompanied on the site visit by ATASP-1 national and Zonal officials led by the Zonal Program Coordinator, Dr Romanus Egba, Chairman Enugu State House Committee on Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization Hon. Ejike Eze, Mr. Dubem Onyia, SPA to Enugu Government on Donor Relations, top Officials of Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture, seasoned rice farmer and investor, Alhaji Sani Friday Nnamani among others.
Some of the landmark project sites visited by the commissioner and other stakeholders included the Two-Span Obinna Bridge which provides link to the Ada Rice Irrigation Farm area,
canal lining and farm roads being constructed under ATASP-1 to facilitate dry season farming and free movement of farm produce in the area.
Patrick Ubru who was impressed by what he saw during the sites tour, described ATASP-1 as an important partner in the efforts of the Governor Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mba, his vision for agricultural rebirth and transformation in Enugu state. This is summed up to: “Feed Ndi Enugu and make the state a food basket for Nigeria, a hub for export of cash crops and eliminate poverty by 2031.
He stressed that the Mba administration was committed to take off of dry season rice farming next season.
“On behalf of my people, we say thank you to ATASP-1 for their intervention projects and programmes in innovative agriculture in Enugu state.
“What we are telling you is that we are ready for dry season (rice) farming at Uzo-Uwani. We are ready to attract investors like Alhaji Sani who came all the way from North to invest here. We want more investors to come into Agriculture in Enugu state”, he said.
Earlier, the team had visited Adani Rice market where ATASP-1 built an ultra modern market and interacted with the some traders on how to make good use of the faculty.
During an interaction, the tradrrs had identified lack of ramps as part of their reasons for not relocating into the newly constructed market, more than two years after it was commissioned for use.
The commissioner had assured that he was ready to discuss further with ATASP-1 Zonal management to address the issues they raised so they can begin to make use of the market.
