Abia State Government Deliberately Making Investments In Agriculture

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti says that his administration is deliberately investing in agriculture to enhance food security, create jobs, and boost the local economy.

Governor Otti made this known on Thursday during the commemoration of the 2025 World Food Day organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, with the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future”, held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.

The Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Kenneth Kalu, said that agriculture contributes nearly 30 per cent of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Governor, who reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to developing the agricultural sector as a key driver of the state’s economy, described the sector as critical to Abia’s economic transformation agenda.

He noted that the government’s ongoing investments in the sector aim to expand production, improve farmers’ welfare and strengthen food security across the state.

According to him, new rural roads under construction are designed to improve access to markets, helping farmers transport their produce with ease and increase their income.
He urged farmers to see themselves as key partners in the mission to transform the sector, stressing that the era of subsistence farming was giving way to modern, commercial agriculture.
“We are moving towards a higher level where you produce, process and export,” Gov. Otti stated.
The state chief executive called on farmers to embrace hard work and honesty in supporting the government’s food security vision.

He assured that the government would continue to support farmers through investment in plantations, provision of improved seedlings, mechanisation and enhanced market access.

In his speech, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbaeze,
described the celebration as a reminder of global hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity.

He said that hunger remains one of humanity’s greatest challenges, with about 700 million people currently affected.

Dr Agbaeze highlighted the introduction of the Abia State Agricultural Dynamic Database, a geo-referenced system designed to record farmers, farms and activities for effective planning and targeted interventions.

He said that the innovation had enabled the Ministry to distribute inputs such as seeds, fertilisers and equipment accurately, avoiding waste and leakages.

The Commissioner said that the government was also investing in modern machinery through cooperative clusters and service centres to ensure no farmer was left behind.

He said that the success of the state’s Oriental Pilot Rice Farm is evidence that Abia could now engage in all-season, large-scale rice cultivation, with improved seeds and better extension services.

The commissioner further revealed plans to expand school feeding programmes using locally sourced produce, ensuring that nutrition and education advance together.

He added that agriculture remains central to job creation, with youth demonstration farms, agri-estates and empowerment schemes already absorbing young people and women into productive ventures.

He announced that the government was deepening access to credit through cooperatives and linking farmers with institutional funders, while expanding insurance coverage against floods and droughts.

Dr Agbaeze also disclosed ongoing efforts to promote all-year farming through irrigation systems and to integrate climate-smart practices, renewable energy, and early warning systems.

He said that the government was strengthening partnerships with local and international investors, as Abia had become an emerging destination for large-scale mechanised agriculture.

Speaking also, the Abia Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Chibuzo Mba, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening food security across the country.

He commended farmers and agricultural workers for their tireless efforts in ensuring food availability for Nigerians. He said that the event underscores the need for global collaboration to achieve sustainable food systems and equitable access to nutrition.

He noted that challenges such as food inflation, conflict, climate change and poor infrastructure continue to hamper agricultural productivity and food security and said that the Ministry had began implementing policies to reduce food imports, improve value chains and enhance the nation’s food supply chain for greater efficiency and resilience.

In their separate speeches, the leader of Abia Women Farmers Association, Mrs Precious Uwaoma, and the representative of CSS Farmers, Mr Uma Kalu, lauded the government’s development initiatives that encourage agricultural development.

They expressed their commitment to supporting the vision of the Governor Otti led administration to transform the agriculture sector in the state.