By Amuche Agbo, Abakaliki
Following the clamour for every youth to have a second address, the Member representing Abakaliki South in Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Joseph Ununu(a.k.a Zuma Rock) has urged Ebonyi youths over the weekend to prioritized on Agricultural activities than depending only on politics to better their lives.
The lawmaker gave the piece of advise during the launching and opening of Prime Feed depots by International Farmers Community Development Association in collaboration with Zuma Mega Ventures Limited at no.1 Zuma Avenue beside Abakaliki rice Mill, in Abakaliki, the State capital.
The lawmaker who was the former chairman of Abakaliki rice Mill emerged the sole distributor of Prime Feed across South East and South South part of Nigeria, and described agriculture as the only and major means of human survival in respect of food.
He noted that despite his busy schedule,that he has been embarking on massive agricultural activities by cultivating rice, cassava, yam, livestock among others.
He stated that the rationale behind it was to advance on the policy of his boss Engr. David Umahi who always encouraged politicians to engage in agriculture irrespective of their political positions.
He asserted that Prime Feed has the capacity to serve the whole nation,and expressed readiness to ensure quality and steady supply of the products in the markets, advising all the farmers to continue to use product in the state as it would be sold in subsidized price and he has made provision of Ventinary doctors who will ensure healthy of their farm produce.
Chief Ununu pledged to train interested farmers, appoint dealers and sole proprietor stating that his objective of launching the products was to challenge unserious farmers to rise to their responsibilities by declaring war against poverty and hunger,and assured the people of financial assistance by financial institutions at all times to improve their farms.
Also,the Managing Director of Prime Feed Mr. Paul Joseph said that the product is a subsidiary of Agric Project integrated Nigeria Limited.
He noted that prime feed remained the best in Nigeria adding that he would do all within his reach to ensure it never lack in the state.
However, the MD expressed grateful for the success recorded in the exercise, and thanked the state Governor David Umahi for giving them an enabling environment to operate, promised to maintain the standard quality of the product.
He described prime feed as farmers friendly and conscious assuring to keep the price affordable.
recalled that Ebonyi is the best Agricultural state in Nigeria, following its heavy production of rice, cassava, yam among other crops, stating that era of lack of feed would be a thing of the past in the state.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resource Hon. Ogodo Ali Nome hinted that Ebonyi state would continue to make agriculture number one at all times, citing its significance in humans life.
The commissioner being a dealer in maize production advised well meaning Ebonyians especially youths to join the campaign of having a second address to ease means of livelihood in the society.
Nome tasked prime feed Managing Director to ensure availability of the products at all times to avoid risking peoples farm.
He added that his Ministry has acquired 5000 hectares of land to be distributed to interested farmers pledged to assist them to access loan through CBN stating that he would engaged 5000 maize farmers this years through CBN money.
He called on Ebonyi people to embrace mechanized farming rather that using hard farm tools and assured state government partnership with prime feed and thanked the sole distributor Ununu for taking a bold step.
The member of International Farmers Community Development Association Mr. Sampson Odudu stated that the association specialized in the training of interested farmers which geared towards bringing in new techniques and output in Agriculture.
He maintained that the train people on how to be expertise in agriculture especially livestock, crops and had adopted the measure of managing and developing peoples farm before handing over to them to reduce high rate of unemployment in the country.
In an interview, the Member representing Izzi East constituency in Ebonyi state house of Assembly Hon. Anthony Nwegede describe the introduction of prime feed in the state as welcome development,and added that it would help Ebonyians to grow economically.
He encouraged youths and entire Ebonyi people to massively embarked on agriculture especially animal farm because it is more profitable.
Some farmers in their separate reactions include Nwonunku Sylvester, Sampson Igboke and Nwegede Monday appealed to prime feed to as a matter of fact ensure consistency on the quality of active ingredients and charged them to shun importing adulterated products that could endangered their farms.
Representative of financial institutions include Polaris Bank and united Bank of Africa were among those that grace the exercise.
