Anambra Sate: Stakeholders Meeting On Renewable Energy,Climate Change Ends

By Chinwe Onuigbo, Awka

A one-day key stakeholders meeting on renewable energy, climate change and environmental management has ended in Awka, with a call on everyone to embrace climate smart practices for a healthier environment.

The meeting, organized by the state coordinating office of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Value Programme Chain Development (VCDP) held in Awka, attracted the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Foster Ihejiofor, the State Program Coordinator, FGN IFAD VCDP, Mr. Nnamdi Agwuncha, representatives from the Ministry of Environment,(Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project ( NEWMAP), Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), lecturers from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and some farmers.

In his speech, Dr. Ihejiofor disclosed that Anambra State is the first state in Nigeria to embrace climate smart policy as its policy.

The Agric Commissioner announced that the state government had few months ago, highlighted the state Agricultural policy direction to embrace the principles and practices of regenerative agriculture as driver of all activities in the sector.

He also revealed that the state government has set the stage for integrating composting centres to host the production unit for black soldier fly, mush room, effective microorganisms and extracts of compost which according to him, are needed by farmers.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Felix Odimegwu, who spoke through the Special Assistant to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Environment, Mr. Nchedochukwu Ezenwegbu, identified aggressive tree planting as the easiest way of reducing emission to actualize 2025 zero emission project.

Declaring the meeting open, Mr. Agwuncha charged every individual to join hands together and heal the world, which according to him, was damaged by human activities.

Presenting the over view of IFAD mainstreaming area on climate change and environmental management, the state environmental and climate change officer, FGN IFAD VCDP, Miss Joy Nwabueze listed climate smart and sustainable land and Water practices, domestic biogas digester, waste to wealth conversation, solar dryers among numerous others as IFAD mainstreaming activities.

For the state Agro Processing Officer, FGN IFAD VCDP, Mr. Bonaventure Mouchebe, an engineer, nature should be respected to change the narrative in agriculture and better the life of farmers and entire populace.