In a bid to eradicate hunger, and ensure food availability and sustainability, Nimo Town Development Union (NTDU) on Monday 22nd April, flagged off the 2024 farming season.
Our correspondent reports that the theme: “Nimo Food Revolution – War Against Hunger” was launched at the Owa, Assembly Ground, Iru Nwanyi Sabbath which saw hundreds of young men and women including the elderly of the Nimo Community present.
Speaking during the flag-off, the President General, of Nimo Town Development Union (NTDU), Engr Dan Zeelunjo Anakpe – Annaliukwu said the essence of the flag-off was to eradicate food scarcity/poverty by cultivating every available land in Nimo including Owa, Owe, Mkpuluata, Nkokpo, Agu Nogba, Agu ekpe lands.
He noted that the increasing wave of hardship in the country amidst rising prices of commodities had prompted the Union to embark on reviving agricultural activities in the community as done in the olden days.
Assistant National Secretary, NTDU, Okeide Tony Mbubah who spoke on the geographical boundary of the areas to be cultivated said Nimo have a large expanse of agricultural land which is now mapped out for cultivation. Every available land in Nimo including Owa, Owe, Mkpuluata, Nkokpo, Agu Nogba, and Agu ekpe lands. The mission is to fight against hunger and ensure massive food production considering the hardship and increase in the price of commodities.
Also speaking, Former Chairman, of Nimo Lagos Branch, Barr Chuks Okonkwo from ifite Enu Nimo, explained that the end of his administration gave birth to Nimo Leaders of Thought who were concerned with the agitations of the people of Nimo and for their lands to be giving back to them.
Filing questions on the alleged Igwe parcel markings on the Owa land and road constructions, Bar Okonkwo maintained that Nimo has two arms of administration which are the traditional and the political arm with the latter belonging to the traditional ruler and the President General in charge of the political arm.
He pointed out that inside the Owa area, there are roads which were people’s farmlands that were taken away from them.
“So what we did was to sensitive the people to go in there clear any place that is not cultivated and make planting because the economy is becoming weaker. Of course, you may have been farming yours for the last couple of years because it is your own but your doing so today is because the President General has directed you to go in there and do so, in other words, if anything happens the Union will bear the responsibility”.
Publicity Secretary, NTDU, and the Image maker of the Nimo, Hon Omile Chukwuma Valentine from Egbengwu Nimo while appreciating the President General’s initiative to eradicate hunger and encourage the people to go into farming, said “We have this empty land for long time and by the direction of the government the land has been approved for farming”.
He alleged that the Igwe Owelle wanted to intervene and start making sales on the land but the community refused because the lands are owned by the indigenes who are from the four quarters of Nimo Community.
Expressing happiness, Lagos-based Chief Maduka Egwudike, from Etiti Nimo Umudiaba said he was happy at the flag-off while applauding the good works of the President General, Engr. Dan Zeelunjo Anakpe, advised every son and daughter of Nimo to grab the opportunity and make surplus food available by the end of this farming season.
Meanwhile, Mondays and Saturdays are to remain general farming days till the end of the farming season.
