Anambra lawmakers call for return to subsistence farming to boost food security

The Anambra State Assembly has called on people of the state to return to the culture of subsistence farming to ensure food security and possible sales of excess produce.

The legislators made the call in Awka on Tuesday while deliberating on a motion by Nnamdi Okafor (APGA-Awka South 1).

Moving the motion, Okafor said that there was a need for everyone, irrespective of the job they were involved in, to embark on subsistence farming to fight the impending danger of famine associated with the economic hardship in the country.

He said that before the Nigerian civil war, people in the area were able to sustain themselves through farming but the discovery of oil made them to abandon farming.

Supporting the motion, Chuks Ezenwune (APGA-Idemili South) said that subsistence farming was very good in sustaining families, thereby chasing hunger away from the state.

“If every family in the state would embark on subsistence farming as a back up to the source of their means of livelihood, the fear of death by hunger will be defeated.

“People should plant crops like tomatoes, pepper, vegetables, corn, okro, yam and cassava, among others to keep afloat rather than depend on white collar jobs with meager wages,’’ he said.

On his part, Obinna Emenakaya (APGA-Anambra East) said that the world could not do without farming and that it was now evident in the level of hardship and hunger experienced in the society.

Also, Francis Mgbeanaeze (APGA Idemili North) said that everybody, including civil servant, traders and students, should be encouraged to engage in subsistence farming by use of any empty land available to them or hire land for family use.

“There is no pride in making oneself comfortable by providing only for oneself, so we all have to work hard to ensure that food security is achieved in the state.

The legislators resolved that all residents should make out time to engage in farming to support the state government in achieving food security. (NAN)