@ Information Department IMHA
In a bid to cater to the growing gap in food shortage and sustainability the Rt Hon Chike Olemgbe led the tenth Imo State House of Assembly has made a passionate appeal to the government of Imo State to leverage the huge expanse of the rice belt in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of the State to solve the growing demand for food shortage and sustainability in the State.
In its one hundred and twenty-third motion of the house sponsored by the member for Ehime Mbano State Constituency and Chairman House Committee on Food Sufficiency, Hon Benard Ozoemenam, Titled “Motion To Urge The Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma, To Intervene As A Matter Of Urgency On the Agro-Revolution For Food Sufficiency In The Area Of Rice Production, Leveraging On The Large Expanse Of Rice Belt In Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area Of The State,” Co-sponsored by:
- Rt. Hon. Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu
- Hon. Kanayo Onyemaechi
- Rt. Hon. Chigozie Nwaneri
- Rt. Hon.Samuel Ogbunikpa
- Hon. James Esile
- Hon. Samuel Osuji
- Hon. Gilbert Nwosu
- Hon. Kelechi Ofurum
- Hon. Ikenna Ihezuo
Hon Benard Ozoemenam, who described the growing food shortage in the State as not only worrisome but alarming, said it was the bane of other vices like insecurity ravaging the country
Hon Benard Ozoemenam decried the disturbing increasing spate of staple food prices at an inflation rate of twenty -three percent and said if nothing is done urgently, the situation might become chaotic.
The Chairman House Committee on Food Security said the Federal Government Policy on Agro-Revolution For Food Sufficiency in the area of Rice Production is an intervention initiative aimed at boosting food sufficiency across the country.
Hon Benard Ozoemenam said the program headed by the office of the Vice President His Excellency Senator Kashim Shetima GCON and the Minister of Agriculture and the thirty-six Chairmen of the State Houses of Assembly on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency as members had the objective of improving the production of rice as a staple food on tables of many Nigerian families.
He further explained that the choice of Ihitte Uboma as a location for the take-off of the program followed the comparative advantage the Local Government Area has in a huge land expanse of the rice belt as well as the proximity of the Onuimo River to the rice belt which is essential for irrigation.
Hon Benard Ozoemenam emphasized that States such as Nasarawa, Benue, and Ebonyi States were already reaping the benefits of the program which has increased earnings and revenue for the State, sustainability, improved export and gross domestic product, and helped improve the production of other agricultural products as well reduced unemployment and youth restiveness.
Seconding and supporting the motion, Hon. Chisom Ojukwu said that with the government adhering to this motion, Imo State would be captured as the food basket of this country as he advised the government of the state to bim its developmental searchlight towards Ihitte-Uboma.
Hon. Innocent Ikpamezie reiterated that the need for rice farming in the state can not be over-emphasized because it’s a daily basic meal of every average Nigerian family. He said it’s a wake-up call for the government to look toward the direction of food sufficiency.
Other members who contributed to the motion are Hon. Dominic Ezerioha ( Oru West), Hon. Kelechi Ofurum ( Owerri North), and Hon. James Esile ( Onuimo) all thanked Hon Benard Ozoemenam for being sensitive to the plight of the common citizens of the State and urged the Governor His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma CON who has shown capacity in developing sectors of Imo State economy ranging from Education, Sports and Youth Development, Works and Housing to leverage on the large expanse of rice belt situated in Ihitte-Uboma.
Satisfied with contributions from Honorable Members, the Speaker Rt Hon. Chike Olemgbe put it to vote, and it was unanimously adopted. Thereafter ruled as follows:
- Be it resolved by this Honourable House to urge His Excellency the Governor of Imo State to consider a massive investment in rice farming and production in Ihitte-Uboma L.G.A as God has created the best natural rice belt in the entire country in the location.
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