A groundbreaking private sector-driven agricultural initiative, Hectare by Hectare, has unveiled its operations in Abia State with a mission to transform agriculture into a major driver of employment, wealth creation, and rural development.
Speaking at a press conference in Umuahia, Abia State, the founder of the initiative, Mazi Chijioke Orji, described Hectare by Hectare as an innovative agribusiness programme designed to empower communities—particularly youths—by granting them access to land, technical expertise, financing, guaranteed markets, and fair pricing mechanisms.
According to Orji, the initiative will operate through structured farming clusters formed via cooperative societies in communities. He revealed that Hectare by Hectare will also establish REVACOM Food Courts, where food items will be sold at discounted prices to ensure affordability for the public. Additionally, Abia State civil servants will benefit from a Food Credit Scheme, providing access to essential food items under flexible payment terms.
“This programme was brought to support and complement the efforts of Governor Alex Otti in transforming Abia State,” Orji said.
“Our focus is to dismantle the traditional barriers in agriculture and create a fully inclusive, profitable, and secure agribusiness ecosystem across Africa.”
Also addressing the press, the Abia State Coordinator of the programme, Prof. Kanu Kangineme, encouraged beneficiaries to replicate the model in their various Local Government Areas.
“Domestication is key. The more communities that embrace this, the more inclusive and impactful the initiative will be,” he emphasized.
In his remarks, General Manager, Abia Newspapers and Publishing Corporation (ANPC), Chief Jones Nnanna Ike, hailed the initiative as a revolutionary step toward unlocking the full potential of agriculture in the state.
He assured stakeholders that the Abia State Government has implemented a robust security framework to support and protect all investments in Abia including this programme.
Representatives from the State Orientation Agency, financial institutions, and other critical sectors were also in attendance to lend their support to the transformative programme.
The Hectare by Hectare initiative is being implemented across Africa by Adasomi Development Company Limited (ADCL) and its partners under a scalable franchising model. It features five integrated schemes designed to cover all aspects of the agribusiness value chain—from farm development and out-grower support to food court operations, home delivery logistics, and voluntary community service.
With projections to engage at least 200,000 participants per state, the programme is expected to significantly reduce unemployment, drive rural economic growth, promote food security, and foster environmental sustainability through community-based agricultural models.
