United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has expressed readiness to partner Enugu state on agricultural development, through provision of technical assistance to the state.
Pix- From (L to R)Ogbuekwe, Ubru, Ode Onyia(m)Chuks- Ronnie, Ekpo
The body which through it’s Propcom± project, provides sustainable climate, Smart agricultural transformation, gave the assurance, Tuesday, ,when the Team Leader, Dr Adiya Ode, led a delegation of the organization on a courtesy visit to the Governor of Enugu state, Dr. Peter Mbah’, in Enugu.
She said the program which is a Nine months program ,started in 2023. It was executed in nine states and ended in January,2024.
According to her, the program focuses on improving agricultural productivity and reduces conflicts over natural resources.
Pix- SSG,Prof Onyia
She disclosed that Enugu state saw what they did in Edo state and showed interest. Ode said they will provide technical assistance to the state government, improve the forestry resources, improve land resources of the state, and rehabilitate the resources to produce commodities which will include oil palm, cashew among others
Her words, “You know Enugu state is one of the states that has some forest resources and some of those resources can be used for farming and for non- timber forestry.
“Enugu state is desirous of improving the management of these resources. So, Propcom+ will assist Enugu in the use of it’s land and in it’s utility of forestry. So, we will be providing some technical supports, so that Enugu state can work out how that forest resource is used , so that the commodities that it produces can benefit the small holders and farmers. So, I think the indigenes will stand to benefit from this work,” Ode said.
Pix- Dr. Ode
The Team Leader said they will have private sector organizations that are investing in sustainable commodity production, adding that , “they will consider the indigenes, so that they will be using that land jointly.So that one group is not using it to the exclusion of the other. So, that they will not be jeopardizing the utility for the future generation.” She added that it will increase revenue in the state and attract investments.
Responding, Governor Mbah’, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, described the visit as a huge opportunity for Enugu state.
He said,” the state government was committed to the project and to the things they shared, what they set out as forest activities within tbe agricultural space , maintaining those areas for positive preservation, ensuring that they are not subject to random activities that may affect the quality of our forestry.
According to him the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agriculture industrialization, Patrick Ubru, was working deligently to have a holistic plan toward technical advise support in the area that they may not have competence in the State. He noted ,that they were very mindful that the plan will work.
We do not take it for granted that FCDO is including us into this. We want to utilize every opportunity and make sure that our relationship is mutually beneficial . This is very important to us, Gov Mbah said..
Governor Mbah said they were going to be looking at the outcome of the intervention
Dr. Ode was accompanied by Gloria Ekpo and Dr. Olachi Chuks- Ronnie. Government officials present were the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agric Industrialization, Patrick Ubru and the Special Adviser to the Goverrnor on Agriculture, Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama
