By VINCENT UJUMADU
AWKA—An Anambra State lawmaker, Chief Anselm Dunu, representing Anaocha 11 constituency in the state House of Assembly has rewarded farmerAs in the area with prizes as a way of encouraging agriculture in the country.

At a ceremony, weekend, to mark the end of this year’s new yam festival among the six communities that make up the constituency, Dunu said his main target was the youth, who he observed, had abandoned farming for petty trading.

In the competition to select three farmers who produced the biggest tubers of yam, Mr. Panthaleon Oradiegwu from Obeledu came first and received a cash reward of N50,000. Mr. Titus Ogudogo from Neni came second with a prize of N30,000 while Mr. Joseph Nwankwo from Aguluizigbo was third and received N20,000.

The winners also received certificates.

Obeledu community that produced the winner also received a trophy that would be redeemed with N50,000 during next year’s competition, while the other three communities that did not win prizes namely, Ichida, Akweze and Nri received consolation prizes.

Addressing the people, the lawmaker who is the House committee chairman on political, local government and chieftaincy matters said the essence of the yam competition was to encourage people, especially the youths, to take to farming, adding that he would distribute farming implements to those who decide to take to farming from all the six communities.

He said: “There is a national campaign for food security and I want my constituency to key into the programme and that explains the yam competition. If everybody contributes his quota to help boost food production in the country, our economy will grow fast because it is the neglect of agriculture that had contributed to the decline in the nation’s economy since the discovery of oil.”