By Dennis Agbo

ABAKALIKI—THE Traditional ruler of Ikem community in Isi-Uzo local government of Enugu State, HRH Igwe Francis O. Okwo, has charged the three tiers of government to be serious with agriculture, especially mechanized farming which is the way forward to getting the youth back to agriculture.

Igwe Okwo said that for agriculture to remain attractive to the younger generation, government at all levels must ensure that mechanized agriculture was put in full swing in all rural areas, in addition to creating as many farm settlements as possible.

The monarch, who spoke to Vanguard during the celebrations of the community’s New Yam festival, otherwise called Orurueshi by the people, stressed that there was no more attraction to farming by the youths because of the crude implements still being used for agriculture in most hinterlands.

He maintained that one of the ways out of unemployment was by full mechanized agriculture that would be less stressful and capable of growing cash produce in large quantity.

Igwe Okwo regretted that occupations like commercial motorcycling, also known as Okada, was taking away young men from farming, advising that with mechanized farming, among other incentives like provision of access roads to the hinterlands, agriculture could be used to arrest crime and political violence.