NEWS
Gov. Alex Otti Flags Off Farmers’ Input Support Programme for 18,634 Abia Farmers, Targets Commercial Agriculture and Food Security
The Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has officially flagged off the Farmers’ Input Support Programme aimed at empowering 18,634 verified farmers across the state as part of his administration’s drive to boost food production, strengthen commercial agriculture and improve food security.
The programme, themed “Improved Inputs, Increased Yields, Sustainable Prosperity for Farmers,” will see the distribution of improved maize, cassava, plantain and sweet potato seedlings, organic fertilisers, herbicides and other agricultural inputs to registered farmers across the 17 local government areas of the state.
Fully funded by the Abia State Government, the intervention is being implemented at no cost to beneficiaries. In addition to receiving free agricultural inputs, farmers will also enjoy free transportation of the items to their farms as well as training and extension support designed to help them transition from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, improve productivity, enhance livelihoods and strengthen food security.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony at the Umuahia Township Stadium, Governor Otti said his administration is laying a solid foundation for commercial agriculture as a strategic pathway to guaranteeing food security, creating jobs and reducing poverty across the state.
While reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting smallholder farmers, the governor stressed that Abia’s agricultural policy is primarily focused on commercial farming because of its greater economic potential.
“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,” Governor Otti stated.
Governor Otti disclosed that the programme, which was initially designed to benefit 17,000 farmers, was expanded after more farmers were successfully verified, increasing the total number of beneficiaries to 18,634 across the state.
He explained that 3,312 beneficiaries would receive their agricultural inputs during the flag-off ceremony, while the remaining 15,322 farmers would collect theirs through their respective local government councils.
The governor also announced that government had made adequate logistics arrangements to transport the agricultural inputs directly to beneficiaries’ farms at no additional cost, ensuring that farmers do not bear any financial burden.
Governor Otti further revealed that his administration first developed a comprehensive database of genuine farmers through the Agricultural Dynamic Database System (ADDS) to ensure that only verified farmers benefit from government interventions.
He encouraged farmers who had not yet registered in the database to do so, stressing that proper identification remains a key requirement for accessing government agricultural support programmes.
Commending farmers for their resilience and contribution to food production, Governor Otti also revealed that the state’s improved investment climate has continued to attract major investors into the agricultural sector, including a multinational palm oil company that has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government 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 Abia State but in Nigeria, other parts of Africa and the global community because agriculture is a veritable business,” Governor Otti added.
The governor also expressed appreciation to the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) and other development partners for their continued support towards advancing agriculture in the state.
Delivering the keynote address, the Executive Director of the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Prof. Chiedozie Egesi, described the Farmers’ Input Support Programme as a major milestone in Abia State’s agricultural transformation, noting that it reflects the government’s renewed commitment to making agriculture a major pillar of economic development.
Prof. Egesi commended Governor Otti’s leadership and praised the state’s Agricultural Dynamic Database System (ADDS), describing it as a transparent and credible model that ensures only genuine farmers benefit from government interventions.
He observed that Abia possesses the natural resources, fertile soils and strategic location required to emerge as the agricultural hub of the South-East and one of Nigeria’s leading agri-food producing states, provided investments in the sector are sustained.
The NRCRI Executive Director urged beneficiaries to complement the government’s intervention by embracing improved farming technologies and global best agricultural practices, stressing that quality agricultural inputs alone cannot deliver maximum yields without proper application, continuous training and extension services.
He reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to partnering with the Abia State Government in research, technology transfer, mechanisation, improved planting materials and capacity building, expressing confidence that the initiative would stimulate commercial agriculture, strengthen agricultural value chains, improve food security and create sustainable wealth for farming communities.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, FCIB, disclosed that the Farmers’ Input Support Programme had expanded from its initial target of 17,000 beneficiaries to 18,634 verified farmers spread across the state’s 17 local government areas.
He announced that 3,312 farmers would receive improved seedlings, fertilisers, herbicides and other agricultural inputs during the flag-off ceremony, while the remaining 15,322 beneficiaries would collect theirs through their various local government councils.
Dr. Agbaeze explained that only farmers captured in the state’s Agricultural Dynamic Database System and verified with identifiable farmlands qualified for the intervention.
He reiterated that the programme, fully funded by the Abia State Government, provides free agricultural inputs, transportation, training and extension support to help farmers move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, increase productivity, improve livelihoods and strengthen food security.
In her goodwill message, the Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Ursula Akanwa, applauded Governor Otti for his administration’s deliberate investment in agriculture, innovation and youth development.
According to Prof. Akanwa, providing farmers with quality agricultural inputs would significantly increase productivity, improve livelihoods and strengthen agricultural value chains across the state.
She added that the programme aligns with the university’s mandate of promoting agricultural education, research, innovation and extension services, while reaffirming the institution’s readiness to partner with the Abia State Government and other stakeholders in advancing climate-smart agriculture, technology transfer and sustainable food systems.
The colourful event also featured the distribution of agricultural inputs to beneficiaries and an inspection of agricultural produce exhibitions by Governor Otti and other dignitaries, highlighting the state’s renewed commitment to transforming agriculture i
nto a major driver of economic growth and prosperity.