Enugu farmers, including commodities Association, cooperative societies and agro produce processors in Enugu State, have on Thursday declared support for the Labour Party candidate, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, Mr Agbaji Chinedu the National Director of Administration of AFAN has disclosed.
In a chat with our Correspondent in Abuja, Mr Agbaji said said the endorsement came during visit to the state as part of his annual strategic partnership and business relationship programme for the new farming season.
According to the AFAN Chieftain, farmers in the state complained about neglect and lack of support from the state government in the last seven years, hence their hope for a better future with Hon. Chijioke Edeoga as governor.
The farmers, Agbaji said, expressed optimism that going by their interactions with the Labour Party candidate, and assurances given to them, things would be a lot better in the area of agriculture and farming in the state.
He noted that the farmers lamented unsupportive stance of the outgoing administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, stressing that there is no functional modern farming equipment such as tractor trailers, Leveler, water Bowser or ripper machine.
According to him, the farmers are of the opinion that Hon. Edeoga, coming from a farming background would demonstrate more commitment to improvement of farmers in the state.
“We stand a chance of getting greater interventions for the improvement of farming businesses in Enugu State with Hon. Edeoga at the helm of affairs, himself having a background of great farmers. It is our believe that he will be more supportive and would pursue policies and interventions Programmes farmers would benefits from hence we have resolved to support him to ascend the saddle” he quoted the farmers to have said.
Agbaji however, enjoined the incoming government of Enugu State to vigorously pursue policies and programmes that would ensure food security for the people.
According to him, agriculture and indeed farming hold the potentials for not only for job creation but also for improving the Internally Generated Revenue IGR of the state.
Mr. Agbaji told the farmers that his mission is to improve farming business and welfare of smallholder farmers in the state through organized and we’ll structured Agro produce off taking system which will improve farm yield, income and create opportunity for Agribusiness investors in the State.
Efforts made to get the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party Mr. Peter Mbah respond to some the issues raised by the farmers, and also know his work plan towards agriculture development in the state was unsuccessful as he could not respond to calls nor text messages sent to his mobile number as at the time of filing this report
