Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has urged residents to embrace household farming and food production as part of efforts to combat hunger and cushion the impact of prevailing economic challenges.
The governor made the call during the Zero Hunger Agricultural Empowerment Programme held at Rockview Hotel, Owerri, where 1,000 households were presented as the first beneficiaries of the initiative.
Uzodimma said while previous government interventions, including food distribution and financial support, had helped cushion the effects of economic hardship, sustainable food production remained key to addressing hunger in the long term.
“It is like giving somebody fish. Now we want to teach you how to fish,” the governor said, urging beneficiaries to commence planting immediately.
He recalled that household gardens were once common across communities in Imo State, with families growing vegetables, tomatoes and other food crops around their homes.
The governor also encouraged civil servants, young professionals and other residents to establish home gardens, stressing that increased local food production would contribute to economic development and food security.
“There is no way Nigeria will move if we don’t grow what we eat and eat what we grow,” he said.
Uzodimma congratulated the beneficiaries and pledged continued government support for programmes aimed at strengthening food security, reducing poverty and improving livelihoods across the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Chinenyenwa Owuamalam, Esq., said the programme was designed to provide 1,000 families with agricultural inputs, training and support for home gardening.
Owuamalam described the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening household resilience and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2, which focuses on ending hunger, and SDG 17, which promotes partnerships.
Also speaking, the Imo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Austin Onyedebelu, commended the empowerment programme, saying the provision of agricultural inputs, modern farming techniques and high-yield seeds could help beneficiaries increase food production and improve their livelihoods.
The initiative is expected to encourage more households in Imo State to participate in small scale food production as part of broader efforts to improve food availability and reduce dependence on food purchases.
By Enitan Mudashiru | MUK TV News
