Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has called on residents to embrace household farming and food production as a sustainable solution to hunger and economic hardship. He made this appeal during the Zero Hunger Agricultural Empowerment Programme held at Rockview Hotel, Owerri. The programme aimed to empower households to produce their own food, thereby reducing reliance on external sources.
A total of 1,000 households were presented as the initial beneficiaries of the initiative, which seeks to promote food security and reduce poverty. Uzodimma emphasized that while previous government interventions, such as food distribution and financial assistance, were necessary, sustainable food production remained the lasting solution to hunger. He encouraged the beneficiaries to commence planting immediately, stressing the importance of self-sufficiency in food production.
The governor drew inspiration from a common practice in Imo communities, where families once cultivated vegetables, tomatoes, and other crops around their homes. He urged civil servants, young professionals, and other residents to establish gardens, emphasizing that increased local food production was essential to the nation's economic progress. According to Uzodimma, "There is no way Nigeria will move if we don’t grow what we eat and eat what we grow."
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Chinenyenwa Owuamalam, commended the initiative, describing it as a strategic intervention to strengthen food security and household resilience. She stated that the programme was designed to support 1,000 families with agricultural inputs, training, and home-gardening assistance, contributing to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Owuamalam further commended the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing food security, agricultural development, poverty reduction, and economic empowerment under the Renewed Hope Agenda. The Imo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Austin Onyedebelu, also praised the empowerment of the 1,000 beneficiaries, describing it as an intervention capable of boosting food production and improving livelihoods.
The Zero Hunger Agricultural Empowerment Programme is aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2, which focuses on Zero Hunger, and SDG 17, which promotes partnerships. By supporting households in food production, the programme aims to reduce poverty and promote prosperity in Imo State. Uzodimma pledged continued government support for initiatives aimed at improving food security and reducing poverty.
The governor's call to action is seen as a timely intervention, given the current economic challenges facing Nigeria. By encouraging households to produce their own food, Uzodimma's administration aims to mitigate the effects of hunger and economic hardship, while promoting sustainable food production and self-sufficiency. The programme's success will be closely monitored, as it has the potential to serve as a model for other states in Nigeria.
Key points
- Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, urges residents to adopt household farming and food production to tackle hunger and economic challenges.
- The Zero Hunger Agricultural Empowerment Programme aims to support 1,000 households with agricultural inputs, training, and home-gardening assistance.
- The programme is aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 and SDG 17.
