By TINA TIMOTHY

The Isuikwuato Consultative Forum (ICF) Agriculture Action Group has said that their people having "been criminally neglected and marginalized since the era of civilian administration" coupled with the "worsening economic environment" in the country, have decided to take their destiny into their hands through the implementation of Isuikwuato Agriculture Revolution program (ISAREP).

This was disclosed by its Chairman, Associate Professor Chidi Esike, during his address entitled "Building the future we desire", on the occasion of the launching of ISAREP and flag off of the 2024 Isuikwuato farming season held at the Ndubuisi Kanu Square, Isuikwuato on Friday, April 5, 2024.

"I am intrigued by that Igbo saying, 'TAA BU GBOO'. Simply stated, it means that today is the future. There is no better way to encapsulate what ICF is doing in Isuikwuato through ISAREP than this because simply put, by deliberately and passionately implementing ISAREP, we have taken our destiny in our hands to build the future we desire.

"The unfortunate and bizarre idea of development in Nigeria and political reward system is building a road or other infrastructures for the communities or giving her sons and daughters political appointments while the people wallow in hunger and want. As lope-sided as these development indices are, the truth, as it pertains to Isuikwuato, is that we are not even lucky to get these lope-sided development as we have been criminally neglected and marginalised since the era of civilian administration in Nigeria. To add insult to injury, the Isikwuato people have, like every other people in Nigeria, been badly affected by the worsening economic environment in Nigeria that leaves a poverty- stricken, hunger-ravaged, confused, hapless and helpless citizenry.

"To solve these problems created by a worsening economy and turn our misery to joy, our poverty into prosperity and our hunger into food security, our people had to be stopped from being given fish and must be taught how to fish and encouraged to fish.

"This exactly was what Isuikwuato Consultative Forum, a body of eminent Isuikwuato sons and daughters that came together to develop Isuikwuato decided to do using the instrumentality of the Isuikwuato Agriculture Revolution program (ISAREP). This was a very ambitious and idealistic dream, an uncharted path, a-never-seen-before project involving a humongous amount of money if it could even be tried. The estimated monetary involvement was so stupendous that 'nwa ego' ndi Isuikwuato, not to talk of ICF, could never achieve such an utopian goal. Ladies and gentlemen, to cut a long story short, that utopian idea that was considered impossible, that could never have been considered possible to achieve by ordinary minds; that only one-of-its-kind idea is what we are all gathered here to launch and celebrate,” Esike said.

To achieve this great feat, according to Esike, over a 100 farmers cooperative societies were formed, millions of naira contributed and seedlings, suckers for planting and fertilizers "procured directly from the best sources in our country", and apart from buying the seedling for the Isuikwuato farmers, ICF "also created the opportunity for all Isuikwuato people that wanted to buy seedlings on their own to buy directly from these reputable firms while ICF brought these back for them" and also agreed to pay for the additional costs when prices increased. ICF further arranged for the farmers to be trained by "world acclaimed researchers and trainers."

He continues: "Through ISAREP, ICF mobilised our hitherto uninterested Isuikwuato population to form over a 100 cooperative farmers societies across Isuikwuato.

"Through ISAREP, ICF had not just brought about the formation of these farmers Cooperative societies in Isuikwuator but had, by raising tens of millions of naira contributed by her members purchased, for planting into Isuikwuato land, the best agricultural fast-growing, high- yielding, pest-resistant varieties of over 20,000 palm seedlings,15,000 bundles of cassava cuttings,10,000 plantain/banana suckers, 10,000 seed yam, 600kg of maize, thousands of mango, orange, bread fruit (ukwa), ogbono, cocoa nut seedlings, pineapple suckers, potato vines, melon and groundnuts. All these seedlings, suckers etc were procured directly from the best sources in our country – the National Institute for Horticulture (NIHORT), Ibadan, Nigerian Institute for Oil palm Research (NIFOR) Benin, the National Roots Crops Research Institution (NRCRI), Umudike with the organic fertilizer from BIO AG, Abuja, etc.

"Apart from all the huge number of seedlings that ICF bought for our people, she also created the opportunity for all Isuikwuato people that wanted to buy seedlings on their own to buy directly from these reputable firms while ICF brought these back for them. By the time ICF placed these orders of these Isuikwuato citizens, prices of various seedlings had been increased. I thank ICF and her leadership for agreeing to pay the price differences for these our people despite the humongous challenges of transportation cost. This resulted in non reduction in the number of different seedlings that would have resulted to millions of naira being lost.

"Perhaps what will distinguish the profoundness and genuineness of thought of ICFand her members in carrying out ISAREP is in her decision not just to procure seedlings and dump on the people but she also procured organic fertilizer for these seedlings from the reputable BIO AG organisation in Abuja and additionally opted to support the Isuikwuato farmers through out the farming cycle. This it did by formalising Memorandum Of Understanding with these reputable organisations to come and train the Isuikwuato Farmers on best ways of planting and taking care of these seedlings and supporting them throughout the farming process. In keeping with These MOUs, world acclaimed researchers and trainers came and trained Isuikwuato farmers in the ISAREP Workshop that held on the 3rd and 4th of April 2024 at the Ndubuisi Kanu Square, Isuikwuato."

Esike consequently calls on the federal, state and local governments, NGOs and Nigeria's development partners to, as a matter of urgency, "collaborate with ISAREP, ICF and Isuikwuato farmers so that ISAREP can reach its full potentials in Isuikwuato and Abia State and prove to all that it is a great model, a social experiment that can be replicated all over Abia state and indeed the whole country," adding that the government should support these farmers with mechanized farming equipments so that they can produce more food "and at the same time be proud and live well as farmers."

Continuing, Esike said: "There is no doubt that in ISAREP, we have set up a strong brand that might inadvertently be the solution to the many basic problems our governments - local, state and Federal had been grappling with and trying to solve - the problem of hunger, unemployment, food insecurity and social disharmony. ISAREP is set to solve all these problems if only governments and Nigeria's development partners can quickly collaborate with ISAREP, ICF and Isuikwuato farmers so that ISAREP can reach its full potentials in Isuikwuato and Abia State and prove to all that it is a great model, a social experiment that can be replicated all over Abia state and indeed the whole country.

"Our new over 100 farmers cooperative societies had made exploits. They had gone into hitherto unfarmed forests, cut down the forests and cultivated them and set up farms and plantations. Arable Isuikwuato farmlands that had not been farmed for the past 20 to 50 years had been cultivated. All our farmlands hitherto abandoned because of insecurity had been farmed because as cooperatives they went to these farm lands in groups, supporting each other and banishing fear, they were able to cultivate and farm. In short, our people had answered our clarion call from ICF and had been so mobilised and worked hard that the huge farm inputs - seedlings, crops, organic fertilizers etc that Isuikwuato Consultative Forum (ICF) got for ISAREP will not just be enough. We therefore appeal to our local government, the Isuikwuato Local government and our amiable Lord Mayor, AVM Chinwendu (Rtd) who is a witness to all these, our dear Abia state and government under our 7 star high performing governor, His Excellency Dr Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, the Federal government and Nigeria's development partners and NGOs to come to the aid of ICF to provide these Isuikwuato farmers with adequate farm inputs so that all the efforts of cultivating many hectares of arable farmland will not be wasted. This will prevent these farmers, especially the many young new ones that joined farming for the first time from getting disillusioned. This will have many damaging far-reaching consequences.

"Cutting virgin forests with matchets and manually cultivating them is not only tiring, it is unproductive, disillusioning and dehumanising in this 21st century. We therefore ask the government to assist these our farmers to mechanise their farmwork with tractors and other modern farming machineries and equipment. This will help them to produce more, increase the food base and social security of the state and at the same time be proud and live well as farmers."

Esike further appealed to the Abia State governor, Dr Alex Otti and his dynamic government to support the farmers and expressed hope that with his "no-problem-is-unsurmountable spirit exemplified by the wonders he is doing in Abia State," he will respond positively.

He said: "Our farmers, a significant proportion of whom are university graduates, are not contented with producing only for Nigerian markets. They have been trained by NIFOR, NIHORT, NRCRI etc in the best methods of planting and caring for plants. They can produce food for any market in the world and indeed desire to produce for world markets. We are therefore appealing to our dear governor, Dr Alex Otti and his dynamic government to set into motion dynamic mechanisms that will facilitate these agricultural export of these Abia farmers. While these seem daunting and complex to us and the confused bystanders, we do not have any doubt that with our governor's no-problem-is-unsurmountable spirit exemplified by the wonders he is doing in Abia State, we are very hopeful that as any dynamic father will happily send his child, who passed JAMB to the university to study, our Governor, Dr Alex C. Otti will assist and send these Isuikwuato farmers who have passed the practical university of agriculture and food production for unemployment and hunger eradication TO THIS GREAT UNIVERSITY FOR FARM PRODUCTS EXPORTS SO THAT THEY WILL DO EXPLOITS TO FEED OUR PEOPLE AND EXPORT FOOD TO PLACE THE NAME OF ABIA STATE IN THE WORLD'S FOOD EXPORT LANDSCAPE to the happiness of a proud and satisfied father, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, OFR? the indefatigable governor of Abia State."

Esike, while expressing gratitude to all who had supported the ISAREP and ICF dream, urged them to "remember that there is still work" to be done, inspite of all that has been achieved.

"Though the ISAREP dream had successfully been delivered, the labour pains and struggle had been arduous even if exhilarating. Permit me therefore to make some acknowledgement on behalf of ICF. We, first and foremost, thank God almighty who made this dream possible in the first place.

"We thank in a special way all the members of ICF who wholeheartedly supported ISAREP from inception and gave birth to it by their robust financial commitments. We thank Chief Ray Nkemdirim, the leader of ICF. Not only was he present in every meeting for ISAREP and gave financially to her cause, Ugwumba gave the services of his radio station, the flow FM Umuahia free for ISAREP and Isuikwuato. It is difficult to thank our encyclopedia, the knowledgeable and workaholic Administrator of ICF, Dr Iyke Ezugo enough for his contributions to Isuikwuato, ICF and ISAREP. We must thank our patron and Chairman of today, Major General Azubuike Ihejirika (Rtd). When it comes to ISAREP, Isuikwuato should thank him. Just one observation and advice from him produced frantic efforts from the Agriculture Action Group of ICF that led to additional acquisition of thousands of yam seedlings and cassava bundles for ISAREP. Sir Prof Charles Ukeje and Sir Chief Cyril Uchenye, we cannot thank you enough as you 2 left everything when ICF called and traveled to Ibadan to help us sign the MOU with NIHORT. DR Ikechi Ugwa was the leader of our MOU signing team to NIFOR with Dr Ugo Onwuchekwa. ICF's signing of this MOU with NIFOR was looking almost impossible until they were contacted. And inspite of all the trouble and helping us in bringing our palm seedlings back from Benin, Dr Ikechi Ugwa still made it a point of duty to come home and make sure our people were supported and enriched through the workshop.

"Our Agriculture Action group members, it is very difficult to find the right words to thank you all for your hard work, brilliant ideas, ingenuity and resilience. I know how crazy I drove you all with persistent meetings, wouldn't allow you be with unending platform meetings, messages etc, and in all these brotherhood, love, understanding and passion for our fatherland, Isuikwuato won as you did not only persevere but delivered on your mandate. In no partcular order I wish to, on behalf of ICF especially appreciate Chief Ray Nkemdirim and Dr Iyke Ezugo, this time not as ICF leaders but for their presence in all our sittings, robust contributions and support to IAAG, nwanne ukwu Professor Francis Ogbonna, your passion for Isuikwuato and ISAREP is unmatched and quest for excellence great. Thank you for all you did and for availing Isuikwuato of your wide contacts in agriculture. Nwanne ukwu Teddy Kanu, your negotiating skills and passion for ISAREP is legendary and you gave it all to Isuikwuato especially in trying to make sure our seedlings got home despite all obstacles as the Chairman of the Bring back the Seedlings Committee, the IDU President General, Chief Osonu Onyedimara we thank you for all your efforts in that official capacity and effortlessly leading IDU to collaborate with ISAREP including helping to make IDU host our first meeting with Isuikwuato people on 29/12/23 and your great contributions as a committee member and Chairman of the Launching committee, Chief Johnny Ndukuba for the great job as Chairman of the seedling storage, Care and Sharing Committee. Elder Paul Iwearu you showed a lot of passion in your work as IAAG member and crowned it with successful outing as Chairman of the Training committee. Ndi nwanne ukwum the ever meticulous Sir Tony Emeka Obasi, Chinedu Nene, Dr Godswill Egbe, Chief Ejii Okoroafor-Nwosu, Maduka Stanley Oleka, Dr Nkere Ebube, Dr Thomas Okorie, Charlie Maduagwu (the baby member of the group that showed a lot of energy) your passion for Isuikwato and ISAREP and service to her and her cause are unparalleled and we cannot thank you all enough. Our indefatigable and proficient Administrative Officer, Mary Uchechi Onuoha who always remained calm and efficient despite all the pressures from ISAREP and other ICF duties, we thank you. Our three ISAREP field workers - Enyioma Ekebuike, Mgbado Kevin and Obinna Ikwuagwu Jack, you people are simply wonderful. You delivered on your mandates and made things to happen in ISAREP and Isuikwuato. We thank you. The passion went beyond work and bothered on love for ISAREP and Isuikwuato.

"However, in spite of these modest achievements, we must remember that there is still work, in fact a lot of work to be done and we must brace ourselves for the challenges ahead and to doing the work.

"As you all are gathered here to witness history being made as we hand over ISAREP and this 2024 Isuikwuato farming season to GOD and present this marvelous work of God (ISAREP) through The Isuikwuato Consultative Forum to the people, to the glory of God and the service to humanity at this official LAUNCHING OF ISAREP AND FLAGGING OFF THE ISUIKWUATO 2024 FARMING SEASON we say, 'TO GOD BE THE GLORY'. Thank you all,” he said.

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