As COVID-19 pandemic forces countries across the globe to close their borders, employers of labour retrenching their workforce because of inability to pay salaries, the economic implications of COVID-19 have thrown agriculture into the mainstream discourse.

In this context, it is of great importance to revisit the role of agriculture in economic development. Oil no longer holds any prospects for the economy now. Hence, agriculture is the only sustainable sector to revive the economy and grow the fortunes of Nigeria.

Food is key and should be treated as such. For the people to be wealthy they have to be healthy and for them to be healthy, they have to be well fed. Agriculture is the only way to actualize this.

That is why the Anambra state government under Sir Willie Obiano, on Friday, May 8, 2020, inaugurated a Committee on Homestead Farming, with a charge for the members to aggressively mobilize Ndi Anambra to engage in home stead agriculture as a way to cushioning post COVID-19 effects.

Members of the committee are: Primus Odili, Chairman; Nnamdi Onukwuba, Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture; Chief Uche Nworah, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of ABS and Afam Mbanefo, Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development and Creative Economy, members. Other members are Simeon Onyemaechi, Executive Secretary, Anambra State Health Insurance Agency; Retired Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi, Managing Director, Anambra State Fire Service and C. Don Adinuba, Honourable Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment.

In his inaugural speech, chairman of the committee, who is also Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Primus Odili, called on Ndi Anambra to go back to UGBO AZU UNO, saying that cultivation of vegetables and economic plants generates billions of naira annually.

Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture C, Mr Nnamdi Onukwuba, explained that farm inputs recently distributed to Farmers across the state was aimed at achieving surplus harvest. He said that homestead farming or UGBO AZU UNO, will save money for individuals and families as COVID-19 has taken toll on people’s and nation’s economy.

COVID-19 pandemic is a risk factor to the country’s food Security and its impact will be greatly felt next year, if farmers are unable to increase their productivity.

The campaign for people to engage in UGBO AZU UNO is not only left for professional or peasant farmers but for everyone, irrespective of social status. When government and good spirited individuals were distributing palliatives under the lockdown, no one distributed crude oil but food items. That is to show how vital food is in preserving human life.

With the closure of borders and boundaries at local, national and international levels, the prices of food have skyrocketed. And if this pandemic continues, the only way people can survive is to invest in agriculture.

Investment in rural agriculture or Ugbo Azu uno, can help people become self-reliant, mitigate the impact of the pandemic, increase individual and family prosperity and ensure more sustainable food systems and food security.

You do not need to go far to achieve this, just cultivate that your empty land behind your home, but while doing this, remember to stay safe.

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