A team from Green Agriculture West Africa Limited, GAWAL, an agric firm with over 20 years practical experience in Nigeria, has inspected rice farms and facilities in Ayamelum LGA of Anambra State.
The places visited were the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project at Omor, giant rice mill at Umumbo, and water pumping station and canal at Ifite-Ogwari.
Speaking to our Correspondent after the inspection, the Deputy Managing Director of GAWAL, Guoxin Xu, explained that the exercise, which was at the instance of the Minister for Women Affairs, Barrister Mrs Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, was to see areas of collaboration, adding that the areas and facilities visited are nice for farming business.
Noting that China, with over 1.4 billion population, has solved the problem of food insecurity through massive agriculture, Xu, who was accompanied by the Marketing Manager of GAWAL, Weiwei Yang, said the firm is willing to help Nigeria address same challenge through technology.
He further stated that the firm can also do agribusiness with farmers in Anambra using technology, supply of quality seed, as well as technical training in rice cultivation, and advised against continued use of traditional method in farming.
Facilitator of the programme and indigene of Omor, Barrister Mike Ikegbunam, described the inspection visit as necessary in furthering planned partnership between the Women Affairs Minister and GAWAL in rice cultivation.
He noted that the Women Affairs Minister is desirous of improving the lives of women and youths in the state through increased or all-year round rice production, especially in the present biting economy.
On ongoing repair of the canal by ATASP-1, Barrister Ikegbunam expressed worry over poor quality of work observed, saying that he has, and will call attention of more relevant stakeholders to ensure that the rights are done.
Friday Egwu, Project Manager of the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project, Omor, and Engr Moses Adelabu, Project Manager of Raycon Construction Company Limited (firm handling rehabilitation of Water Pumping Station at Ifite-Ogwari) helping in taking the GAWAL inspection team round the areas and facilities visited.