Owerri – Some 120 traditional rulers in Imo under the aegis of Royal Fathers in Agriculture (ROFINA) have formed a multipurpose cooperative society to inculcate the culture of farming in the people.
A statement issued by the group in Owerri on Thursday said that the ROFINA Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd was formed for the traditional rulers to reactivate farming as part of the culture and tradition of the people.
The statement signed by the President of the society, Eze Chidume Okoro and its Secretary, Eze Aloysius Obi, said it would also enable the traditional rulers to assist the federal, state and local governments and rural communities to achieve food security.
The statement said the society would achieve its aim through the use of modern agricultural technology and adherence to agricultural best practices.
The society would also help the traditional rulers to contribute toward reducing unemployment and gender subjugation through a 10-year plan to provide employment for 2000 women and youths annually.
The statement further said that the society would encourage them to take advantage of pooled resources and tap into federal and international incentives and facilities available in agriculture and rural development.
The royal fathers also expressed concern with the dwindling oil resources, poverty and the related insecurity in the midst of abundant non-oil natural resources.
They pledged to deploy the opportunities offered by the farming culture of the Igbo man, their privileged access to farm land and their wealth of experience to help their communities.
They also commended the coordinated plan of Gov. Rochas Okorocha and President Muhammadu Buhari to rebuild the nations’ agriculture. (NAN)