By Dr. Oliver Anyabolu
Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, has an excellent educational background and employment history as our leader.
He possesses communication, listening, collaboration, empathy, and patience skills.
The people of Ndi Anambra admire him. And believe Soludo has what it takes to turn around their fortune.
Charles Soludo has been the most respected and admired Governor since the inception of the State in 1991.
Ndi Anambra’s expectation for the governor to deliver is too high and to make Anambra State more prosperous.
The anticipation of Ndi Anambra people includes the Soludo administration to provide good roads, food security, healthcare, the safety of its people, and education.
The governor is a person with political will and a visionary leader.
However, 95 percent of the population must understand the challenges and barriers the governor faces. They do not know that Anambra is not a wealthy state.
This write-up focuses on how Anambra would become an agricultural State.
Agriculture is the mainstay of any society’s economy.
Anambra can be a farming state with three-quarters of the State as farmland. Food insecurity occurs when an individual goes without food due to a lack of money for one day or two. An individual is poor if he or she does not earn 137,000 naira annually. A person with 87,000 naira and under per year is below the poverty level.
A farm is the raising of food crops or livestock for sale and could include ranches and dairies. Soludo’s administration could collaborate or partner with Anambra Chamber of Commerce, Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), and Colleges of Agriculture to help beginner farmers understand the steps needed to achieve the dream of having their farms.
Farmers and ranchers need to know about growing crops and forages- fertilization management, managing livestock (nutrition, health, genetics), marketing, and general business management (accounting, taxes).
Teach potential farmers where to seek assistance from good sources, not those taking advantage of inexperienced people.
Educate the new farmers’ proper management of insect and mite pests and the instructions for using them with corn crops, soybeans.
One way to increase agricultural products is to have food advocates.
Governor Soludo should create Sustainable Food Advocates in the 181 towns/communities in Anambra State. These individuals who are skilled in farming, especially the Colleges of Agriculture and expert farmers, have the responsibility through events, conventions, and other speaking engagements to educate prospective farmers, growers, and business owners on how to grow food successfully, which will include the best soil to use, manure, the correct moisture.
In addition, Colleges of Agriculture could have their students cultivate and produce an average of nine tons of produce yearly, yams and cassava.
Communities could work closely with volunteers to develop one hectare of land in cassava with stipends. The school of Agriculture may be an animal science department that would be in the field to teach and support small farmers in poultry farming
Soludo’s administration should create a total of 1,800 skilled farmers throughout the State. Each town selects ten potential farmers. Involve the experts and various institutions to teach or educate these individuals on agriculture techniques.
He advocates for policy and regulatory reforms to improve the efficiency and integration of domestic food markets and reduce barriers to food trade.
With good planning, Soludo’s administration could produce good onions, peppers, and beans. Anambra could become an agricultural State where cattle, guinea corn (sorghum), and sheep would be adequate.
One of our small farmers’ challenges is the need for more infrastructure. Many small farmers struggle to establish profit margins because they must invest in the infrastructure.
In addition, the voices of small farmers and those who need greater access to local food are often ignored. The state governor should target to provide access roads to all the food-producing areas to make food prices cheaper.
Soludo is already doing well in road infrastructure. In late 2022, I traveled to Awba Ofemili on a medical mission and observed heavy road construction along Amansea, Ugbenu, Ebenebe, Ugbene, and Awba Ofemili by Soludo.
Awba Ofemili is a rice-producing area that produces fish. With good roads, people from Awka would easily travel to the site and buy fresh fish. Most farmers in the State use simple production techniques to produce food crops for family consumption and little for sale. Easy crops to grow include beans, sunflowers, and sweet potatoes.
Find two hectares of land, which helps create a successful farm. The key is to find the right plot of land, have plan capacity, and put in hard work.
Soludo’s administration would partner with other food agencies to mechanize rice production in Awba Ofemili and elsewhere. Improving supply chains to reduce post-harvest food losses, improve hygiene in food distribution channels, and better link production and consumption centers.
The availability of soft loans would be paramount to increasing food production in the State. The Governor should work with various banks and other institutions to guarantee soft loans to our farmers. Experts in agriculture should inspect these farmers who have State loans often.
The Governor could seek financial assistance from Anambra billionaires, millionaires, Foundations, and Nonprofit Organizations. Soludo’s administration should work with the private sector, governments, scientists, and others to strengthen capacities to assess and manage food safety risks in the State.
Anambra could become a significant production of cocoa and oil palm. Oil palm or palm oil is a lucrative vegetable oil. It may be used to produce bar soaps used locally for washing. Kernel cake derived from kernel production serves as a feed for dairy cattle with high protein. Oil palm has many byproducts, such as washing detergents and cosmetics.
Can Anambra become the largest producer of palm oil or cassava in Nigeria? The economic potentials would be enormous revenue both domestic and exports.
Another cash crop is rubber, Anambra should increase rubber production to become the leading State. Cashew nuts and groundnuts have become popular in the world. Anambra cashew nuts could be exported to all parts of the world.
Dr. Oliver Anyabolu is the Community Health Awareness of Oklahoma
www.communiyhealthawarenessok.org