Anambra communities have been urged to use their newyam festivals to attract more individuals to embrace agriculture as a source of livelihood.
Speaking in Awka, the Vice President of Ọhaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, said this would boost food production and enable the state and Southeast region to achieve food security. Paul Ezeoke reports that Chief Okeke-Ogene expressed satisfaction that many communities have introduced many schemes and incentives that promote competition among farmers; who often go home with mouth-watering rewards during the festivals.
He noted that Ndigbo celebrate yam as king of crops and use the festival to showcase Igbo cultural heritage, including cultural dances, masquerade displays and exhibition of artefacts,among others.
Chief Okeke-Ogene said the celebrations also provide opportunity to chart new course for community development, including initiating road projects andother interventions on social institutions, noting that new yam festivals by Ndigbo in thediaspora export and project Igbo cultural identity to the outside world.
He called on federal and state governments to encourage and support communities to embrace modern farming practices in order to meet the demands of the time.
Also speaking, a community leader, Chief Chris Ugochukwu, said new yam festivals help to strengthen bond of unity in communities and encourage upcoming generations to take pride in their cultural heritage.
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