By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Philip Okoye from Igboukwu and the Pariah Priest of Holy Family Catholic Church, Akpo, both in Aguata council area, is a renowned yam farmer who introduced planting of new yams two times a year.
As we speak, Fr. Philip is currently harvesting his first set of new yams on Monday this week.
As farmers are beginning to go back to farm for this year’s farming season, a particular farmer is harvesting new yams for the 2024 farming season.
Our correspondent witnessed the harvesting of the first new yam of the year and reports that in previous years, Rev. Fr. Okoye cultivated yams in large quantities from January and harvests in July and August.
But this year, he introduced a new time table, which is planting in November of the previous year and harvesting in April, then plant again in April to harvest in November this year.
At the farm during the harvest with the help of someone, Rev. Fr. Okoye harvested big tubers of yam as usual.
On how he was able to achieve it, he said he used Philoco method where he used fowl droppings as the manure, which must be placed some yards away from where the yams were planted for a better yield.
The Parish Priest of Holy Family Catholic Church added that he used an irrigation system to achieve the desired result.
While harping on the need for the government to equip farmers to engage in an all-year- round farming system, he said it will not only ensure food sufficiency, but will promote export, as according to him, there is enough manpower to drive the initiative.
Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Okoye Philoco method of farming has trickled down parts of the Community, as he has been training a lot of youths and adults on how best to get better yields