Abia Flags Off Massive Farmers Support Programme as Gov. Otti Targets 18,634 Farmers, Attracts $200 Million Agribusiness Investment

Governor Alex Otti has officially flagged off the Abia State Farmers Support Programme, a landmark agricultural initiative designed to empower 18,634 verified farmers across the state’s 17 Local Government Areas with improved farm inputs and transportation support.

The programme was launched on Friday, July 10, at the Umuahia Township Stadium, where Governor Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming agriculture into a major pillar of food security, job creation, wealth generation and sustainable economic development.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Governor explained that the intervention followed a comprehensive registration and verification exercise aimed at ensuring that only genuine farmers benefit from the programme.

According to him, the state government has developed a reliable database that identifies farmers and their farmlands, making the distribution process transparent and accountable.

“We started with data gathering because we wanted to map every farmer to a farm. We now have a comprehensive database of our farmers. If we cannot identify you, we won’t be able to support you,” Governor Otti said.

He encouraged farmers who are yet to register to take advantage of the ongoing registration exercise to benefit from future government interventions.

Governor Otti stressed that while his administration remains committed to supporting smallholder farmers, its long-term vision is to promote commercial agriculture capable of driving large-scale production, attracting investments and strengthening the state’s economy.

“We believe strongly that subsistence farming may not take us too far. While we are not disinterested in subsistence farming, we are aggressively promoting commercial agriculture because agriculture is a veritable business,” he stated.

To ease the burden on beneficiaries, the Governor announced that the government would provide free transportation for all distributed farm inputs, ensuring that farmers incur no additional costs in moving the materials to their farms.

In another major announcement, Governor Otti disclosed that the improved investment climate in Abia has continued to attract investors into the agricultural sector, revealing that a multinational palm oil company has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government to invest up to 200 million US dollars.

He said the investment is expected to strengthen food security, create thousands of jobs, reduce poverty and position Abia as one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural investment destinations.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, disclosed that 18,634 verified farmers would receive improved varieties of cassava, rice, maize, plantain, sweet potato, pepper, tomato, as well as organic fertilisers.

He explained that 3,312 farmers were scheduled to receive their inputs during the flag-off ceremony, while the remaining 15,322 beneficiaries would collect theirs through distribution centres in their respective Local Government Areas.

Dr. Agbaeze emphasized that only authenticated farmers whose details are captured in the state’s farmers’ database, with evidence of farmland, qualify for the programme. He added that all farm inputs had been fully paid for by the state government, while transportation allowances would also be provided.

Delivering the keynote address, the Executive Director of the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Prof. Chiedozie Egesi, described the programme as a clear indication that agriculture has regained its rightful place in Abia’s development agenda.

He commended Governor Otti’s visionary leadership and praised the administration for restoring confidence through infrastructural development, improved governance, enhanced security and a better business environment.

Prof. Egesi noted that empowering farmers is essential to economic growth and assured the state government of NRCRI’s readiness to partner in boosting agricultural productivity.

Similarly, the Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, applauded the Governor for prioritising agriculture and other critical sectors of the economy.

She urged beneficiaries to make effective use of the farm inputs, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in food production, improved livelihoods and sustainable agricultural development.

According to her, agriculture remains Nigeria’s most dependable pathway to food security, poverty reduction and economic prosperity.

The colourful event attracted government officials, agricultural stakeholders, traditional rulers, farmers’ associations, development partners and other dignitaries from across the state.

The Abia State Farmers Support Programme is widely regarded as one of the largest agricultural empowerment initiatives undertaken by the present administration and reinforces Governor Alex Otti’s vision of building a modern, commercially driven agricultural economy that delivers prosperity for the people of Abia.