The Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Patrick Ubru, talk this one for interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday for Enugu, the state capital.
The commissioner talk say the government join hand with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to start Agro-Rangers Squad.
Mr Ubru talk say the Agro-Rangers Squad, wey dem create to support other security people wey dey ground, go dey ready to protect farmers and farmlands for the state.
“This squad wey get special training on agricultural protection and other technological gadgets go checkmate all forms of insecurity wey our farmers, both commercial and small holder farmers for the state, dey complain about.
“The squad dey stationed for major farms for the state as well as special agro-processing centres and facilities,” he talk.
The commissioner talk say the ministry dey also discuss with the Miyetti Allah group so that dem go also join to make sure say everybody dey secure.
He talk say: “We dey meet with them to make sure say dem help to put their members in check.
“Dem go help us to identify those herders wey no be their members wey dey enter and start acts wey dey cause misunderstanding among herders and farmers.”
For the matter of the plenty farmers/herders wahala for Isi-Uzo council area, the commissioner talk say the state government don join hand with the Federal Government to start military base for Isi-Uzo.
“Very soon, farmers/herders wahala and some people wey dey move with unauthorised weapons go be thing of the past for the council area and the local governments wey dey near am,” he talk.
Mr Ubru talk say the state government don put plenty money for agriculture as business and don do plenty agro-industrial partnerships with donor agencies.
He talk say the state government dey ready to make sure say their agricultural “transformation and revolution make the desired anticipated impact”.
He talk say the Governor Peter Mbah-led administration don put plenty money for security, and say dem don take both covert and overt security measures.
“This na to make sure say the state meet its set targets in agriculture holistically wey also cover rural development, industrialisation, food sufficiency, food security and the work opportunities wey e go bring.
“Upscaling agriculture through plenty investment and plenty mechanisation na the main push for the state government’s plan of moving the state from economy of present $4.4 billion to $30 billion within the next eight years,” he talk.
Source: Prime 9ja Online Pidgin: Enugu State Government Wan Secure Farmers, Boost Food Sufficiency