Abia State government has launched an agricultural revolution aimed at empowering over 18,000 farmers across the state with the requisite inputs, skills and knowledge to boost the economy of the state.
At an event themed “Improved Inputs, Increased Yields, Sustainable Prosperity for Farmers”, in Umuahia, Governor Alex Otti stressed the importance of agriculture in every economy.
He said his administration is laying a solid foundation for commercial agriculture to guarantee food security, create jobs and reduce poverty, and remains committed to supporting smallholder farmers.
“In fact, that is the bedrock of our agricultural policy because we believe strongly that subsistence farming may not take us too far.
“While we are not disinterested in subsistence farming, we are promoting aggressively commercial agriculture”, according to the governor.
He commended the farmers for their resilience and contribution to food production and disclosed that the state’s improved investment climate had attracted major investors.
The governor explained that the investors include a multinational palm oil company that had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the state to invest up to $200 million dollars.
“I’m sure most of you would have heard about a multinational palm oil producer that has signed an MOU with us with an intention to invest up to $200 million dollars in the state.
”We believe that with this kind of investment, we can guarantee food security not only in the state but in the country, other parts of Africa and the global community because agriculture is a veritable business.”
Delivering a keynote address, the executive director, National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Chiedozie Egesi, described the programme is a major milestone in the state’s agricultural transformation.
He said the institute is commitment to partnering the state in research, technology transfer, improved planting materials, mechanisation and capacity building and expressed confidence that the initiative would stimulate commercial agriculture.
Similarly, the vice-chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Ursula Akanwa, in her goodwill message, lauded the administration’s investments in agriculture, innovations, and youth development.
The vice chancellor reaffirmed the university’s readiness to partner the state and other stakeholders in promoting climate-smart agriculture, technology transfer and sustainable food systems
Earlier in his address, the commissioner for Agriculture, Cliff Agbaeze, said the programme had expanded from an initial target of 17,000 farmers to 18,634 across the 17 local government areas of the state.
He added that the farmers would also receive training and extension support to enable them transition from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, boost productivity, improve livelihoods and enhance food security.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP, some of the farmers Ogbonnaya Okoro, Agu Mbama, Jessica Uguru, Emma Ginikanwa,and Oluebube Solomon thanked the governor and the government for the programme.
