The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has urged people of the South East to return to farming and invest in agriculture as a means of coping with the hardship in the country.
IPOB, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, said Igbos would avert food shortage and starvation in the Southeast and Nigeria by engaging in farming and agriculture.
The group urged all Igbo philanthropists to support farmers in their communities by purchasing seedlings and other farming implements for them instead of giving them temporary food items.
The statement reads; “The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the great confident and indefatigable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu calls on Biafrans to invest heavily in agriculture this planting season. It is time for us to create food sufficiency in Biafra Land because we have the means and the fertile lands to make it happen.
“IPOB calls on every Biafran to start farming on all agricultural products, particularly cash crops, to avert the impending famine in Nigeria. There is famine looming in Nigeria, and Biafrans must be prepared to avert the impending danger of starvation.
“Farmers should be encouraged and supported to go into farming instead of sharing consumable foods with our people. Investors should start Agricultural Cottage Industries to process and preserve agricultural products for export. Biafrans have fertile and able lands for good yield.
“Other than cash crop production, our people can also invest in animal husbandry. Moreso, Biafrans should invest in agricultural research centers for quality research and development focused on growing our native food products efficiently. Ndigbo, it’s time to learn how to fish instead of just buying fish to eat.
“IPOB equally calls on patriotic Biafrans to sensitize our people on the importance of farming. Our people should understand that farming is very important. We should not believe in buying everything we eat from the market.
“As Biafrans, we must make food sufficiency a priority. We must not allow our enemies to have full control of our food supply and supply chain. Any nation that is incapable of feeding themselves will always be left in a vulnerable situation. Our people must be involved in the production of all cash crops, vegetables, and livestock that we utilize daily”.
