By VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA- THE Oyi Archdeaconry of the Anglican Church in Anambra State has set up a multi-purpose agricultural project as part of its efforts to improve food production and generate funds for the church.

Known as Oyi Farms Multi–purpose Cooperative Society Limited, the project comprises poultry, fishery, snail and rice farming and it is expected to employ a large number of people in the area.

A major stakeholder in the project, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, said at Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area, that the Archdeaconry has acquired a large expanse of land at the lower Anambra Irrigation Project for the purpose of cultivating rice at Ayamelum which is an area noted for the cultivation of rice.

According to Obidigbo, the Archdeaconry has decided to key into the federal and state governments’ policy on food security and solicited the financial assistance of well- to -do people in the state to be part of the project by investing in it.

He explained that the Archdeaconry would spend about N5 million for the procurement of the necessary equipment, including tractors  for rice cultivation, drilling of motorized borehole for fish farming, provision of inputs and other requirements to make the project a reality.

Anglican Bishop of Enugu, Rev Emmanuel Chukwuma commended the Archdeaconry for the project, saying that there is need for the church to diversify and invest to reduce the burden of levies on the people.