TRADITIONAL RULER FAULTS GOVERNMENT’ ON CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION OF AGRIC INCENTIVES TO FARMERS

TRADITIONAL RULER FAULTS GOVERNMENT’ ON CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION OF AGRIC INCENTIVES TO FARMERS

David Maduako –Umuahia

The Traditional Ruler of Avodim autonous Community Alaocha Ubakala in Umuahia South LGA of Abia State , His Royal Majesty Eze Boniface Chidi Onyemaechi , have declared that one of the major factors affecting Agriculture in the country is the use of wrong channels to distribute Agricultural Incentives to farmers .

Speaking on Agriculture in his Palace during the celebration of the community’s new yam Festival which took place recently at the village square of the community, Eze Onyemaechi said the major reason why agric is lacking behind in our country is not majorly Insecurity but the use of portfolio Farmers to share Agric incentives to farmers.

According to him , the so called portfolio carrying farmers are fake, what ever incentives that is given to them disappears along the line and never gets to the real farmers who are the end users of the Incentives and these Farmers are mainly located in rural areas the Eze said.

Eze Onyemaechi advocated the use of traditional rulers to reach farmers stating that traditional rulers know the real Farmers in their communities . government should use the traditional rulers In sharing incentives to farmers , they know those who are genuine farmers in their kingdoms he stated .

The Eze who is the Chairman Umuahia South Council of Traditional Rulers said culture is important to very one , he noted that people’s Culture is their cultural Identity . He commended the Avodim autonous Community Alaocha Ubakala for a peaceful celebration of the new yam festival .

A prominent son of the community Chief Chinatu Oliver Jacob with the Chieftaincy title of Onwa Akurulo said he prefers the Igbos indigeneous culture to foreign imported cultures . He noted that in Igbo culture lies honesty , integrity hard work and self help . He observed that his Grand father was a man of culture and he lived for a hundred and five years while his Father Mr Jacob Nwabuko a pastor lived for 56 years for this reason ,, he decided to be a cultural man and he is happy . He advised youths to be self reliant , according to him government’ is not interested in helping an Igbo man so they should eschew fraudulent ways of making money but should focus on their businesses to help themselves grow .

The chairman of the Organizing Committee of the new yam Festival , Mr Nwokoma Uchegbu described the celebration as peaceful. He commended the youths for abiding to the instructions of the Committee and that of government which engendered peace and tranquility within the period of the celebration .

Eze Onyemaechi of Avodim autonous Community Cutting roasted yam tubers to kick start the new yam Festival.

The last son of the paramount ruler of Ipupe Ubakala Chief Emmanuel Ujoatu Chile Ahiwe who came home to be part of the celebration said Culture is part of his life and he loves culture hence his coming home to celebrate . According to him agriculture is on the decline because the people have jettisoned Agriculture which use to be the main stay of people’s economy in this part of the country, in favour of fast and fraudulent ways of making money especially among the Youths . He blamed the government for not taking care of salient issues that affects the youths which have given rise to insecurity in the country including the south East .

An abroad base member of the community Dr. David Nzegbulam who is also into Real Estate Management described Culture as the bed rock of any society . He opined that Agricultural sector is suffering as a result of government neglect of that all important sector of the economy. He advised government’ at all levels to make more investments in the agricultural sector for food sufficiency in the country . He was full of praises for Dr. àllex Otti’s government in Abia state describing it simply as awesome.
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