GOV. OTTI FLAGS OFF FARMERS SUPPORT PROGRAMME SET TO EMPOWER OVER 17,OOO FARMERS David Maduako –Umuahia.

GOV. OTTI FLAGS OFF FARMERS SUPPORT PROGRAMME
SET TO EMPOWER
OVER 17,OOO FARMERS

David Maduako –Umuahia.

The Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Óttï said his administration is poised to fight hunger and poverty in the state. To this effect , the governor penultimate Friday flagged off Farmers Support programme where over 17,000 Farmers would be given both farm inputs and financial aids for food sufficiency in the state .

Speaking at the event which took place at the Umuahia Township Stadium , the governor said
his administration is commitment to transforming agriculture into a major driver of food security, employment generation, and economic prosperity.

He explained that the empowerment and distribution of farm inputs followed a comprehensive farmers registration and verification exercise aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability
to ensure that real farmers get empowered. He made it clear that those who could not be verified would not be empowered. He called on genuine farmers who have not registered to do so before the time elapse .

The Governor further emphasised that while government will continue to support smallholder farmers, its agricultural policy is firmly anchored on promoting commercial agriculture capable of driving large-scale production and economic growth in the state .

The Governor also announced that government has made transportation arrangements to ensure beneficiaries convey their agricultural inputs to their farms at no extra cost, describing farmers as critical partners in the State’s development agenda and assured them of sustained government support.

He stated that government’s interest in the agricultural sector have continued to attract Investors into this sector and this he said include a
multinational palm oil company that has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abia State Government to invest up to 200 million US Dollars in the state’s agricultural sector.

According to him, such investments will significantly strengthen food security, create jobs, reduce poverty, and position Abia as a major agricultural hub.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, disclosed that a total of 18,634 genuine farmers will receive farm inputs of improved varieties of different crops, including cassava, rice, maize, plantains, sweet potatoes, pepper, tomato, and organic fertilisers.

“For the flag-off day, the target is 3,312 farmers, while the remaining 15,322 farmers will receive their inputs through their various LGAs” Dr. Agbaeze stated.

Dr. Agbaeze noted that to benefit from the programme, a farmer must be captured on the State’s database after being properly authenticated as genuine farmers with evidence of a farmland. He added that all the items to be distributed have been fully paid for by the State Government, and transport fares will be provided.

In his keynote address, the Executive Director, National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Prof. Chiedozie Egesi, said the farm inputs distribution is a declaration that agriculture has once again taken its rightful place as a priority in the development agenda of Abia State.

He noted that agriculture remains the foundation for a purposeful governance in Nigeria commended governor Óttï for taking up the initiative go promote Agriculture in the state .

In her goodwill message, the Vice Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, appreciated Governor Otti for being intentional in all sectors, including agriculture, and urged beneficiaries to make good use of the inputs.

Prof. Akanwa noted that the initiative demonstrates a clear commitment to agricultural transformation for rural prosperity and economic development. She described Agriculture as the most reliable path way to food sufficiency and prosperity.

The event was attended by major stakeholders in the state’s Agricultural sector .
End .