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.

The Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr. Alex Chioma Otti,OFR, has assured Abia farmers and development partners in the agricultural sector of government’s full support to achieve food sufficiency.

Dr. Otti made this known during the flag off ceremony of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership For Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) Innovative Strengthening of Smallholder Farmers Initiative in Abia State.

Represented by his deputy, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, Otti described the event as a testament of commitment, both from our state and from the African Union, to transform agriculture, strengthen our rural economy, and improve the livelihoods of our hardworking smallholder farmers.

He noted that “Abia has not only been selected as one of the seven pilot states for this continental initiative but has also fulfilled its counterpart funding obligations, thereby showing seriousness and readiness to embrace agricultural innovation”.

He regretted that though smallholder farmers form the backbone of our food production, they face challenges of access to finance, modern farming techniques, extension services and reliable markets. Joyfully, “the AUDA-NEPAD program seeks to address these gaps by equipping our farmers with new knowledge and technologies, improving productivity and food security, enhancing incomes and reducing poverty in our rural communities as well as strengthening our state’s agricultural value chains to make them globally competitive”, Otti stated.

The Governor expressed confidence that with determination, our farmers will no longer remain at the margins but at the very center of agricultural growth and prosperity.

In his welcome address, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and focal person AUDA-NEPAD Abia State, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze described the program as a landmark initiative that is designed to support, empower and uplift these smallholder farmers through the provision of modern improved inputs, training, impactful agricultural and climate smart practices as well as structured market access to enhance productivity,
cut post harvest losses and secure higher more dependable income.

He revealed that the program is strategically aimed at improving food security, creating jobs and generating wealth for our teeming population. Dr. Agbaeze noted that a total of 17,000 households are targeted for support across the 17 local government areas of the state with the pilot scheme having 1,000 farmers. He appreciated the Governor for providing the counterpart funding for the program and described the event as a celebration of excellence, resilience and the boundless potential of Abia people. He further encouraged the beneficiaries to embrace this golden opportunity with dedication and diligence while assuring AUDA-NEPAD national office that the program in Abia will yield remarkable results.

Presenting a remark on behalf of the National Coordinator and CEO of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, Hon. Jabiru Salisu Abdullahi Tsauri, the Director Program and Implementation, Hajia Fatima Abubakar Ibrahim stated that Abia State was selected as one of the pioneer 7 pilot states that received grants under the smallholder farmers program. She noted that it is “a testament to the potentials and promises domiciled within the agricultural communities in Abia State”. Hajia Ibrahim highlighted that the program aims to enhance farming practices, increase our potential and ultimately improve lives and prosperity of Abia people.

She called for a proper utilization of the fund with utmost effectiveness and efficiency in all the farming sectors as its successful implementation will undoubtedly strengthen the position of Abia State for other transformative initiatives such as the ambitious solar powered lightning of one million houses, bringing light and opportunities to our communities.

In his remark, the Mayor of Isiukwuato Local Government Area and Chairman ALGON Abia State, Hon. Chinedu Ekeke underscored the need to give smallholder farmers the necessary support they deserve.

“We must ensure that the smallholder farmer does two things better; produces more food and then makes more money from farming. And I have sat here throughout this period and I.have seen that that is actually the target of this program- to ensure that the rural smallholder farmer produces more through improved inputs, improved techniques and then when there is more food, the offtakers will also be made available so that from production you go to the market. And then our people will have more money in their pockets, more food to feed themselves, more food to feed their children and their neighbors and their entire community. That’s basically what I understand this to be”, Ekeke stated.

He noted that Mayors across the state are diving into agriculture with at least 14LGAs engaging in two special agricultural programs each, aimed at boosting food sufficiency and generating income. He told the audience that in his council, he is embarking on a 50-hecter cassava farming to improve livelihood and create wealth.

The event was well attended by top government functionaries, traditional rulers,Abia farmers and stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

Sir Cyril Chukwudi Eke Mba, KSJI
Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Abia State
August 21, 2025.