By Israel Mbam
Executive Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Hon. Barr Sunday Basil Nwankwo has been applauded for his numerous agricultural support initiatives, especially the establishment of Opefi farm and regular distribution of inputs to farmers across the Council.
The commendation was given by Ebonyi State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Princess Nkechinyere Iyioku at Ikwo Council headquarters, Onubonyi Echara while flagging off the 2025 distribution of farm inputs to farmers, traditional rulers and stakeholders of the council.
The commissioner who said Ikwo ranks first in rice production and other agricultural activities, warned against selling the input and encouraged all farmers and stakeholders to queue into the agricultural policy of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru who wants to achieve food sufficiency and food security in all parts of the State.
In his welcome address, the Council Boss, Hon. Barr Sunday Basil Nwankwo, thanked Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for always stepping down his people’s charter of needs policies to the grassroots. He also praised the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Princess Nkechinyere Iyioku for lifting the face of the State in areas of agriculture and natural resources. He said the distribution of the farm inputs was to complement the agricultural programme of the State government, aimed at supporting farmers and stakeholders with inputs such as rice seedlings, fertilizers and herbicides.
He warned against selling, stressing that he would set up taskforce to checkmate those who engage in such act. He explained that the primary purpose of the distribution was to boost yield and guarantee food sufficiency in the State.
In their goodwill messages, HRH. Eze Dominic Ibor Aloh, Hon. Gloria Janet Nweke, Hon. Chinasa Itumo, Hon. Mrs Onyiyechi Nweke, Hon. Kelvin Udenyi and others, expressed their profound joy and appreciation to Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Princess Nkechinyere Iyioku and the IKwo Council Boss, Hon. Barr. Sunday Nwankwo for their commitment to the welfare of the people, especially through agric support programmes. They prayed for more strength on the leaders and assured them that the farm inputs would be used effectively in order to achieve multiplier effect on food production in the council.
Items distributed include 5000 bags of fertiliser and faro 45 high breed rice seedlings, 200 cartons of herbicides among other items.
Highpoints of the event was lectures on agricultural best practices delivered by resource persons from the State Ministry of Agriculture and their partners.
