MPR, Ahiara Diocese Mater Farm Explore Strategic Collaboration
Owerri Imo State/New York, USA, May 4, 2021: The Mbaise Policy Roundtable (MPR), a non-governmental organization with offices in Owerri Imo State, Nigeria and New York, USA, recently visited the Ahiara Catholic Diocese Mater Farm to assess its operations and explore potential areas of collaboration with MPR Agriculture initiatives.
The visit which was conducted by MPR Chief Program Director Dr. Jude Iheoma was a follow up to a letter from the Director of the Mater Farm Rev. Fr. Pius Ibeabuchi Anyanwu, seeking assistance from MPR. In his letter Rev. Fr. Anyanwu wrote, “I write to seek the assistance of the MPR following the conference held on 7th April 2021. In line with the plan of our Premier Bishop Most Rev Victor Chikwe, the above named (Mater Farm) was established to ensure food security, employment, and empowerment within and outside Mbaise. This idea for so many years has suffered a lot of setbacks, due to insufficient funds and lack of managerial strategies…..Mater Farm is an Integrated farm with large poultry department, piggery, fishery, snailery, apiary and acres of farmlands for crops production located within and outside the farm..”
Dr Iheoma in his post visit summary report wrote, thus, “I visited the Ahiara Diocesan farm located near old Eke Nguru market and met with the Director, Rev. Fr.(Fada) Pius Anyanwu. The purpose of this visit is to explore areas of collaboration with MPR Agriculture Initiative as well as observe the operation of the farm. Fada Anyanwu and his staff welcomed me and gave me a tour of the farm. Fada gave a brief history of the farm and the intent of our beloved Bishop Chikwe’s vision for the farm”.
“By my observation, it is very clear that the vision of Bishop Chikwe is yet to be realized. While the farm has passed through many Directors, it appears with appropriate funding and the dedication and passion of Fada Anyanwu, I believe the mission and the vision of this farm will be realized. I will encourage Fada to write a brief history of the farm and his plans to revitalize the farm. From my observations, the farm has potential to be profitable if adequate funds are invested.”
Reacting to the Mater Farm visit report, the Chairman of MPR Professor Eddie Oparaoji said “we are very encouraged by and share the vision, potentials and operations of Mater Farm. Bishop Victor Chikwe who established this farm to ensure food security, employment, and empowerment for our community was ahead of our time. We will be taking a critical review of our available resources to see how we would help the Farm accomplish her purpose”.
It must be recalled that the MPR in a recent report said “ we have been in collaboration with The CSS Group of Companies, one of the largest mechanized Agribusiness in Africa, majoring in Agriculture, construction, food processing and packaging, Aviation and Renewable energy. The purpose of this relationship is to facilitate the development of Mbaise into an Agrobased economic powerhouse”
MPR is the premier pre-eminent Mbaise Public Policy and Business Advisory Council in the World, focused entirely on the development of Mbaise and Imo State, through the facilitation of financial and in-kind resources, private investments and private public partnerships.
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