In order to implement dry season rice cultivation at the Ada Rice Irrigation Project Scheme, Uzo-Uwani Local administration Area of the State, the Enugu State administration has said that it is prepared to collaborate with the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase-One (ATASP-1).
Mr. Patrick Nwabueze Ubru, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization, made the statement to farmers of Ada Rice at Uwelu-Akpa Hall in Adani following an inspection visit of active ATASP-1 economic initiatives in the region.
The Chairman of the Enugu State House Committee on Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization, Hn. Ejike Eze, Mr. Dubem Onyia, SPA to Enugu Government on Donor Relations, senior members of the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture, and seasoned rice farmer and investor Alhaji Sani Friday Nnamani were among the ATASP-1 national and zonal officials who accompanied the Commissioner.
The Two-Span Obinna Bridge, which connects to the Ada Rice Irrigation Farm area, as well as canal lining and farm roads being built under ATASP-1 to facilitate dry season farming and free movement of farm produce in the area, were some of the significant project sites visited by the commissioner and other stakeholders.
Ubru, who was inspired by what he witnessed during the site visit, referred to ATASP-1 as a crucial collaborator in Governor Peter Mbah’s plan for the revival and transformation of agriculture in Enugu State.
“Eliminate poverty by 2031,” he said, “providing for the people of Enugu and making the State a food basket for Nigeria, a hub for export of cash crops.”
He emphasised that the Mbah administration was determined to ending rice growing in the dry season the next season.
“On behalf of my people, I would want to congratulate ATASP-1 for your creative agriculture intervention programmes and activities in Enugu State.
“What we are saying is that Uzo-Uwani is prepared for dry season (rice) growing. Like Alhaji Sani, who travelled all the way from the North to invest here, we are prepared to draw investors. We want more investors to enter the Enugu State agricultural sector, he remarked.
The crew previously visited the ATASP-1-built, ultra-modern Adani Rice Market and spoke with several of the vendors there about how to best utilise the space.
The lack of ramps was mentioned by the traders during a conversation as one of the reasons they had not moved into the newly built market more than two years after it had been given the go-ahead.
The commissioner promised that he was prepared to continue the conversation with ATASP-1 Zonal management in order to address the concerns they brought up and enable them to start using the market.
