PROFESSOR’S GAMBLE THAT KILLED AGRICULTURE IN ANAMBRA.
IT IS BROKEN.
By Gozie Ugwumba
Every inch of Anambra soil is fertile, blessed by the Niger and its labyrinth of tributaries that provide natural irrigation. That is why successive governments from old Anambra to the present state created in 1991, prioritized agriculture. Soludo’s predecessor even achieved export of vegetables until distance to international airports and sabotage by airport operatives partly forced the state to build its own cargo airport.
But all the gains were sacrificed on the altar of Soludo’s illusory “disruptive change.” He promised Ndi Anambra that agriculture would be a major growth driver. Page 24 of his manifesto pledged support for agro-processing, partnerships with CBN, World Bank, and empowerment of smallholder farmers with needed inputs. Four years later, none of those promises stand fulfilled. Instead, agriculture in Anambra is worse than he met it.
Soludo tried to mimic Dr. M.I. Okpara’s legendary agricultural revolution, but refused to study how Okpara made it work. Who is Okpara for a professor of economics to study? He blew hundreds of millions of naira on palm and coconut seedlings, distributing them randomly to people who knew nothing about grooming those seedlings. Predictably, the seedlings shriveled under the sun and died. What a costly and wasteful laboratory experiment with Ndi Anambra’s money.
Now, hope is rising. Ukachukwu and Ekwunife have pledged to restore agriculture to its pride of place, not with experiments but with proven steps such as mechanized farming, modern irrigation, climate-smart practices, automated agro-processing hubs, and digital platforms like TASTA (Technology for Agricultural Systems Transformation in Anambra) to connect farmers with machinery, subsidized inputs, and real-time agronomic advice.
Anambra doesn’t need another Mr Know-All. Ndi Anambra need leaders who will revive agriculture as the backbone of the economy, not bury it in failed experiments.
It’s B-R-O-K-E-N!!! Ukachukwu and Ekwunife will fix it.