Mr Henry Udofia, Chairman of Uruan, presenting watermelons harvested in the council’s farm to journalists on Tuesday, 26th May.
Abasifreke Effiong – Uyo
Uruan local government council in Akwa Ibom state has recorded a large harvest of watermelon from its 10 hectare fruits and vegetable farm located at the council’s headquarters in Idu.
Chairman of the local government area, Mr. Henry Udofia, said on Tuesday that the harvest of the fruit started on Monday.
Udofia who was part of workers in the farm harvesting the watermelon said he is happy that the council recorded higher yields this year.
RELATED STORY : 55 women receive N1.1million in Uruan to support micro-scale businesses
He said his administration has converted hectares of land belonging to the council to commercial agricultural purposes.
This reporter observed that the council had parcelated the 10 hectares of land, planting watermelon, pineapple, okro, pepper, plantain, corn, potato and cassava.
Showing some of the watermelons harvested at the council’s vegetable farm to journalists, Udofia said the council took the decision to invest in agriculture in order to encourage more youths and women who are unemployed to learn from the council and venture into agriculture.
He said the yield this year was more encouraging than in 2018 when he started the farm.
READ : Grading roads in all communities is our dry season priority – Uruan chairman
The council chairman said agric business is lucrative and has the capacity to create employment and provide food, saying that more than 50 people including young adults and women working in the council’s farm are paid by the council from the sales made from crops planted in the farm.
“I am using the money we generate from the sales of our produce from the farm to pay the workers. If we didn’t generate enough money from the farm, there is no way we would be paying these number of people”
“This expanse of land was always lying waste. When we came in, I said no, land is a huge resource, we have to put it to maximum use. We started this farm to ensure that we are able to feed our people and ensure all -year -round availability of food in Uruan and Akwa Ibom state.”
“I did this so that people, even the political class can learn from it. We should not depend on allocation alone, we can use agriculture to meet some of our basic needs.”
“We have led by example and have encouraged youths to shun idleness. And I am happy that a lot of them have learnt from what we are doing and are really investing their time in agriculture.”
READ ALSO : Nurses at University hospital Jos go on strike, abandon 17 COVID-19 patients
Henry said aside from the 10 hectare fruits and vegetables farm, the Uruan local government council will plant 1000 stands of coconut before the end of his tenure later thus year.
He said about 200 seedlings of coconut have already been planted.
“We are also planting coconut. You know our Governor, His Excellency, Deacon Udom Emmanuel is investing so much in coconut and its value chain, I am keying into that, so that when the state will reap from that foresighted investment, Uruan will also benefit”, the council chairman said.
Baskets of okra and pepper were also harvested from the Uruan local government council’s farm on Tuesday.
