By Chinyere Anyanwu
The Omor Kingdom in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State has expressed its readiness to tap into the proposed smart agriculture by the Prof. Charles Soludo-led government.
Igwe Chris Oranu Chidume, Eze Igulube, Eze-Anaukwu of Omor Kingdom who disclosed this while addressing the press during ‘Omor-in-Focus,’ a ceremony that marks the beginning of Annual Ofala celebration, noted that agriculture would not only boost the productivity of the community, but will also increase the GDP of the state and the country.
Igwe Oranu called on the government to provide the community with College of Agriculture, as there is no University of Agriculture in the state, adding that the whole of Ayamelum LGA is an agrarian society.
Urging the government to assist the community on infrastructural development, he pointed out that constant supply of electricity, road infrastructure and agriculture training centres would go a long way in reducing post harvest losses recorded by the farming community.
He stated that the premium placed on community development has been the driving force that keeps propelling every Omor indigene to continue contributing towards every project of development initiated by different age groups and indigenes.
“If the government should address these issues, Omor will not only be an economic hub, but will contribute immensely to the GDP of the state and Nigeria at large. Steady electricity supply for the next five years will promote rapid industrialisation. Omor is a resilient people that will take loan and invest in farming and during harvest flooding damages it. Omor people are ready to leverage smart agriculture giving the necessary infrastructure,” he said.
Chief Amobi Chiamogu stated that the community records unprecedented post-harvest losses, calling on the government to provide storage facilities.
According to Chief Chiamogu, “During rainy season, our people record post-harvest losses, so we are calling on the government to provide us with storage facilities. We are also calling on the government to provide us with access roads. When the regular natural disaster, which is flooding, occurs and the road is submerged, the people of the area are cut off from other communities in Anambra State. It becomes impossible for farmers to evacuate their farm produce. “
“So we are appealing to government to consider building another bridge across Ezu River from Igbariam axis to provide a permanent solution to the post-harvest losses. If the government can dredge and pile up sand of about 20 feet from Anaku end and erect a bridge, it will go a long way in solving the problem. With this, our people can survive flooding without losing much of their farm produce. This is because during the flooding period, we can take the alternative route to evacuate our agricultural produce to markets and processing zones.
“This period of flooding and excessive rain is our glut period. The period of plenty and if we are unable to take them for processing, it means post-harvest loss.”
On his part, Justice Paul Obidigwe, fomer Chief Judge of Anambra State, who spoke on the past of Omor Kingdom, noted that before the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War, Omor had four clans, adding there was no major road and no potable water. He said the community used to get drinkable water from waterfalls and streams.
Justice Obidigwe noted that because there were few educated people in Omor, the community initiated the construction of Community Secondary School Omor and got government approval in 1976.
“Due to our quest for development, we were very focused that Omor must be developed. Between 1972 to 1974, we had Omor County Council. In 1973, I was the Chairman of Omor County Council and we had to construct road by ourselves.
“Omor College is the first college in Ayamelum Local Government. The age grade system is the critical organ of the traditional institution in Omor. For instance, the Omor town was built by the Oganiru Age Grade. The Njikoka built Magistrate Court and post office, Igwebuike Age Grade built the police station and NEPA office. We got electricity in 1989.”
