VEGETABLE FARMERS DENY GETTING SUPPORT FROM ANAMBRA GOVT

Contrary to claims by the Anambra State government of supporting the local farmers towards the exportation of vegetables worth billions of dollars to foreign countries, farmers in the state have denied receiving any financial support from it.  

This shocking revelation came during a recent media tour by journalists in the state on the various projects being undertaken by the state government to mark the third year of Willie Obiano’s administration.
 
Those who spoke to Daily Trust in Ogbaru, one of the farm locations, said they had never received any incentives from the government, adding that they were unaware of the exportation of their goods to foreign countries.
  
The farmers said they got patronage from customers from neighboring states like Delta, Rivers, Imo and within the state.

A farmer, Mrs Onyejiaka Nzediegwu, said she raised money to prepare her farm for the production of vegetable, adding that she spent over N50,000 to procure seedlings, till the land and other labour during the last farming season. 


“My farm yielded about 40-60 bundles per day during harvest and we received customers from Delta, Rivers, Imo and within Anambra,” she said.

According to Nzediegwu, the farmers operated through a union called ‘Otu ukwu-orji’, comprising of several farmers, mostly women.

Another farmer, Mrs. Chinyere Chigbada, corroborated Nzediegwu that the farms relied on their individual efforts and had not felt any government presence in the farms.  
She said she took a loan of N150,000 to buy the vegetables and pepper sidings used during the last farming session. BY EMMA ELEKWA.