BY NGOZI OBILERI
Citizens of the state once again have another seasonal farm produce to satisfy their hunger with the appearance of corn at various markets across the state.
Driving through the streets of Awka and it’s environs, the aroma of either cooked or roasted corn caresses the nose of the passerby reminding him or her that it is that time of the year when corn eaten with pear or coconut causes people to salivate even when they are not hungry.
Every resident of the state is conversant with the popular Amawbia Junction, a roasted corn depot where all and sundry long to buy and eat freshly roasted corn.
But it appeared there was delay in appearance of the produce this year which was as a result of late arrival of rains as was explained by experts in the field Dr Nneka Mefo who is the Provost College of Agriculture Mgbakwu and Emeka Okoli, Director Technical services at the state Agricultural Development Project.
At a corn farm in the College of Agriculture Mgbakwu, the Acting Dean of the school Mr Ejikeme Chinedu who told ABS that even though they planted early, theirs were eaten up by rodents and insects.
A dealer in roasted corn Mrs Chizoba Chinemelu and Jennifer Uche however explained that corn grown in this part of the country normally gets to the market this time of the year and said they normally sell the produce early in the year if they were able to source it from the north.
To some consumers Messrs Stanley Agu and a Northerner Abdulahi Ismaila, corn is a sweet delicacy which they look forward to eating this time every year.
Mr Emeka Okoli equally used this opportunity to explain activities of government towards introduction of nutritional crops as a way of reducing health challenges through staple foods.
Meanwhile it is a well known fact that corn sells more during the rainy season especially in the evenings.
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