By Jude Atupulazi
An Igbocentric scholar and Founder of Nkolo Mahadum (Wisdom University), Dr Obiora Mba, has called on the Anambra State Government to invest sufficiently in Agriculture for sufficient food consumption and export.
Dr Mba who made the call while having a chat with newsmen in Awka, Monday, emphasized that Anambra State, Igbo Nation and Africa, at large, were blessed with fertile land and capable human resources who were willing to produce not only enough food for local consumption but also for export for foreign earnings.
While regretting that the government was not serious with agriculture, Mba however advised the governors of the South East states to provide loans to farmers and grant of at least N200, 000 to each person that would be willing to cultivate one plot of rice per season.
He further suggested other measures to achieve food sufficiency for people and reduction of poverty and crime rates in society.
‘The government should create farm settlements in several parts of Anambra State such as Ayamelum Local Government Area, for insurance,’ Mba said.
He emphasized that the government had a big responsibility to ensure there was enough food for people because the government controlled a lot of resources.
Dr Mba frowned at large scale farming which he described as a colonial idea.
‘I believe in the Igbo man sole proprietorship. It provides more employment to many people.
‘In this, many people will have ownership of what they are doing than being an employer in a large scale farm.
‘So this is why I’m calling on the government and our billionaires to provide money, resources and ideas.
‘The government can start to establish industries in each town, depending on the need and site of the town across Igbo Land.
‘It can empower entrepreneurs, give them loans to also establish multiple industries across Igbo Land,’ he stated, noting that doing those things would help to alleviate poverty in Igbo Land.
The U.S. based pharmacist further called on the Anambra State Government and other governments in Africa to decentralize the governance structure and make the work of the legislative arms of the government part-time in order to use much funds usually allocated to them for common good.
He believed that poverty could be alleviated if the government channelled much of the funds allocated to the legislative arm of government to the provision of common goods.
‘The government should establish more general hospitals; for instance, Awka ought to have at least five general hospitals.
‘The government should find out those that are unemployed to assist them in the provision of basic amenities.
‘When the government assists those that are unemployed to pay for housing, electricity, in terms of subsidy, the high rate of poverty and criminality in our land will drastically reduce,’ Mba said.
