The governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Enugu, Frank Nweke, has promised to establish the Enugu Strategic Food Reserve (ESFR) to end food shortages in the state if elected in 2023.
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Nweke stated this in a statement issued by the Media Campaign Manager, Innocent Dikin, on Saturday in Enugu.
He said the initiative was aimed at providing assistance to low-income people and vulnerable communities with ESFR centers in each senatorial zone.
According to him, the idea is to ensure that no one goes hungry, adding that they will have a strong data plan to place families in the food distribution program for a certain period of time.
“Enugu Strategic Food Reserve (ESFR) will not be a pure charity venture. It will be designed as a social enterprise to serve more than one purpose.
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“Through the ESFR, we will provide a ready market for thousands of farmers as we buy and store their agricultural produce.
“This will also serve as the necessary storage facility to save part of the estimated 40 percent of agricultural produce that is lost due to non-availability of good storage facilities.
The gubernatorial candidate said he would work with the Agricultural Innovation Center to be set up in the six agricultural zones.
He added that he would adopt agricultural cooperatives that would ensure benefits to farmers through better agricultural inputs.
“During the rainy and festive seasons that are known for price hikes, we will use the ESFR to reduce food prices by strategically releasing stored grain and other staple food items into the market. ad