The Office of the Wife of the Governor of Abia State, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, has distributed fertiliser to rural women farmers across the state to improve crop yields and strengthen food security.
The exercise, held at the Ministry of Agriculture complex, targeted women farmers in rural communities as part of efforts to boost agricultural productivity and increase household incomes.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Priscilla Otti commended Governor Alex Otti for his administration’s commitment to transforming agriculture in Abia State. She said the initiative aligned with the government’s agenda to empower women, reduce poverty, and ensure sustainable food production.
“Abia is blessed with fertile land. With the right support, the state will become a leading hub for food production in Nigeria,” she said.
“Governor Otti’s support and the shared vision of the Ministry of Agriculture made this possible because he believes governance should be practical. This will not be a one-time intervention for our rural women farmers. The governor’s commitment to agriculture is evident in the policies and programmes being rolled out, and we will continue to complement those efforts.”
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, said the intervention would ease the burden on female farmers and encourage more women to embrace commercial agriculture.
“This is a practical step to help our women farm better and harvest more,” she said.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Chris Enweremadu, said women remained the backbone of food production in the state. He noted that the initiative went beyond fertiliser distribution to improving livelihoods and transforming food production in Abia.
The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Ngozi Felix, added that the programme would contribute directly to reducing rural poverty and improving livelihoods, particularly for women who make up a significant share of the state’s farming population.
“Supporting women in agriculture is an investment in food security,” she said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Nnenna John, thanked the Wife of the Governor for the support, saying the fertiliser would help farmers achieve better harvests during the current farming season.
