From TCNEWS
An agriculturist and the traditional ruler of Oriendu autonomous community Ohuhu clan in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, HRM Eze Pastor Philip Ajomiwe, has called for collaboration between the critical stakeholders and policy makers in the agricultural sector in order to achieve the objective of the late Premier of the Southeast region, Dr. Michael Okpara and other founding fathers of Agriculture and food security.
Speaking in his palace of Faith, Peace and Love during his annual Iwa ji ohuru festival, which is coming days after the World Food Day celebration, Eze Ajomiwe also said it has become necessary to ensure the yam subsector is repositioned to boost wealth creation, increase income for farmers and job creation, as agribusiness is now the centre of attraction.
He decried that within the context of the current realities that we find ourselves in Nigeria, most households cannot afford a tuber of yam, which is a staple food across households, across different regions, regardless of their ethnic affiliations.
He also stressed that to achieve the enormous task of repositioning yam as an export crop, deliberate action must be made to take yam production, processing and marketing to the next level in line with international best practices.
Ajomiwe also suggested that government should facilitate core farmers to adopt natural farming for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother earth and to also promote alternative fertilizers and balanced use of chemical fertilisers.

The Royal father who said that the most critical part of food journey is access to roads and transportation of adequately stored harvest to local food markets and beyond, also decried that a glaring challenge facing the famers is optimizing their harvest through proper storage facilities to maintain quality and prevent food loss.
The traditional ruler who also lamented that insecurity has sent a lot of farmers out of business, especially in the Northern part of the country, appreciated Governor Alex Otti for kicking out/away corruption, diversion of government’s interventions to non-farmers, provision of inferior seedlings and low quality inputs, which has made the expected drop in the cost of food impossible in the sector.
Eze Ajomiwe who acknowledged that the climate change is having its toll on farmers, with excess rain and longer periods of drought, appealed to the government to look into the cost of farming facilities/equipments, which has reduced the number of practicing farmers, as those left in the profession can barely afford it, hence, the low yields from their efforts.
Due to the perceived environmental, economic, and health risks associated with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), Eze Ajomiwe passionately called on the Federal Government to halt the adoption of GMOs in the country, reasoning that the use of GMOs undermines Nigerians’ right to safe, sustainable food, in line with the theme of the year 2024 World Food Day, which is ensuring better lives and futures.
On the Bill for an Act to Establish National Institute for Organic Agriculture and Food Safety Research, in Ulonna North Isuikwuato, Abia State, sponsored by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah (Labour party Abia State), which has passed its second reading in the Federal House of Representatives, Eze Ajomiwe appreciated the bill and expressed optimism that if consented by the Presidency, it will promote the development of sustainable organic agricultural practices and technologies and ensure the safety of organic food products for consumers.

The royal father who is also a member of the Rotary Club of Umuahia North enlightened the guests on the significance of new yam festival, the difference between Iwa ji and Iri ji, steps in yam cultivation and harvesting among others finally blessed the yam before consumption.