NEWS
AFCOSOL Seeks Strategic Partnership with Abia State Govt as Agriculture Commissioner, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze Reaffirms Gov. Otti’s Commitment to Food Security, Farmer Welfare and Data-Driven Interventions
The leadership of the Abia State Apex Farmers Cooperative Societies Ltd (AFCOSOL), under the chairmanship of its Board of Trustees, Chief Nwogwugwu Uzoma, has paid a strategic courtesy visit to the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, FCIB, at his office in Umuahia, in a move aimed at strengthening collaboration for sustainable agricultural development in the state.
The high-level engagement served as a formal introduction of the apex farmers’ cooperative body to the Ministry, while also opening discussions on deeper institutional synergy to drive productivity, improve farmers’ livelihoods, and enhance food security across Abia State.
Receiving the delegation, the Honourable Commissioner described the visit as timely and forward-looking, noting that it aligns with the present administration’s vision of building a robust and inclusive agricultural sector. He reiterated the state government’s readiness to partner with credible farmer groups and cooperatives whose operations are geared towards genuine agricultural development.
Dr. Agbaeze emphasized that the administration of Governor Alex Otti remains firmly committed to policies and programmes that uplift farmers, strengthen cooperatives, and ensure that agriculture remains a viable economic driver for the state. He stressed that responsive governance continues to shape interventions targeted at improving productivity and boosting food sufficiency.
A major highlight of the Commissioner’s remarks was the critical role of the Abia State Agricultural Dynamic Database in driving transparency and efficiency in the distribution of government support. He explained that only farmers properly captured in the database would be eligible to benefit from intervention programmes, urging AFCOSOL leadership to mobilize members who missed the initial phase to take advantage of the ongoing second phase of the farmers’ enumeration exercise.
He further charged the cooperative body to remain steadfast in upholding its core values, maintaining accountability, and preserving the trust reposed in it by its large membership base.
Earlier in his address, Chief Nwogwugwu Uzoma provided a comprehensive overview of AFCOSOL, describing it as the umbrella body for all practicing farmers’ cooperative societies in Abia State. He disclosed that the organization, established in 2014, currently comprises over 1,300 cooperative societies with a membership strength of about 27,000 farmers spread across the three senatorial zones of the state.
Highlighting the body’s track record, Uzoma pointed to AFCOSOL’s active participation in national agricultural engagements, including representing Abia State at major exhibitions where it recorded remarkable recognition, notably at the 2018 Agricultural Show in Abuja, as well as its presence at the 2016 National Agricultural Show.
He also underscored the cooperative’s role in promoting agricultural value chains, facilitating workshops, and contributing to peace-building initiatives between farmers and herders, while advancing the production and marketing of key commodities such as cassava, palm oil, and rice.
While reaffirming the group’s commitment to supporting government policies, the AFCOSOL leadership appealed for sustained collaboration and institutional backing. Key among their requests were access to their allocated operational space within the Ministry’s premises for improved seed demonstration, as well as provision of essential logistics to enhance their statewide activities.
The visit marks a significant step toward consolidating partnerships between the Abia State Government and organized farmer groups, reinforcing a shared commitment to agricultural transformation, economic growth, and food security.