He made this known yesterday when members of PAN and stakeholders in the livestock industry paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Owerri.
He said that the purpose of their visit was to relate to government some of the challenges besetting the poultry industry, especially in the areas of accessing loans and marketing of poultry products.
Ahanenye noted that the association has about 8,760 registered members across the 27 LGAs of the state, providing employment opportunities for the youths.
He commended Okorocha for the road infrastructure in the state, saying that has facilitated movement of farm produce to the markets.
Responding, the governor said that development of the agro economy will be one of the major programmes of the rescue mission in the next four years.
He revealed that if he is reelected, his administration will build agro-based industries and provide incentives to encourage participation in agriculture in order to create employment and wealth for the people.
He maintained that the agricultural sector, if developed, has the capacity to generate about 75% jobs for the teeming unemployed youths as well as address the problem of poverty and hunger in the nation.
The governor assured farmers that government will provide market for their produce to save them from losses.
He directed that a joint committee of the ministries of agriculture, education and community government council be established to buy the excess eggs from the poultry farmers.
Contributing, the Chairman, Veterinary Medicine Association, Dr. Rowland Ariri, stressed the need for employment of more veterinarians to assist in controlling the spread of poultry diseases.
He appealed to government to develop livestock markets for poultry products, stating the group’s readiness to partner with the government.
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