In a bid to ensure food security and improved nutrition in the State, the Abia State House Of Assembly has resolved to pass into law a Bill that will help boost agricultural activities in the 17 Local Government Councils of the State.
This decision followed a motion presented by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu who represents the people of Arochukwu State Constituency. The Majority Leader in his motion titled: “Motion On The Need To Ensure Food Security And Encourage Local Farmers in Abia State” explained that Agriculture as one of the predominant occupations in developing countries is the bedrock for sustainable economic stability and food security in developing nations and argued that the State has massive land suitable for Agricultural purposes which are not properly utilized.
He also cited the introduction of Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative recently introduced by the Federal Government to vitalize and incentivize local action and improve food security, health and nutrition in Nigeria as a lead program explaining that other states in the country had since introduced same program to address their nutrition and food security challenges.
Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu in his prayers urged the house to encourage the State Government through it’s Agricultural Ministry to initiate programmes and incentives to encourage Local farming in the State as well as mandate the State Government through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to ensure the Establishment of Food Security and Nutrition Committees at the Local Government Level. The law maker went further to urge the house to Mandate it’s Committees on Agriculture, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and that of Food Security to follow up to ensure full implementation.
His motion received an overwhelming support from his colleagues including; Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke (Ohafia South), Hon. Isienyi Boniface (Ikwuano), Hon. Nnamdi Ibekwe (Bende North), Hon. Godwin Adiele (Ukwa West), Hon. Obianyi Chinemerem Lewis (Ukwa East) and others.
Owing to the importance of the Motion, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa urged the sponsor of the Motion, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu (Arochukwu Constituency) to liaise with the House Committees on Agriculture, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Food Security to upgrade the Motion to a Bill to give it more weight and to re-present same to the House.
Recall that the Majority Leader in his own capacity had ealier in this year and during last year’s farming season distributed Fertilizers and other incentives to the Local Farmers in is Constituency to encourage them with a view to boosting agricultural production in his constituency and the state at large.
Abians can only hope for more food production in the State when the Bill is introduced and passed into law soonest.