Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has inaugurated 17 Farm Managers, representing each of the State’s Local Government Area, to spearhead the newly launched Joint Agricultural Intervention Project designed to boost food production and rural agribusiness across the State.
Performing the inauguration on Thursday, at the JAAC Secretariat, Umuahia, Governor Otti said the initiative signals a new era in agricultural intervention in the Southeast, starting from Abia State.
The Governor, reprsented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, charged the farm managers to demonstrate commitment, focus and resilience, adding that the success of the initiative rests significantly on their shoulders.
“Our charge to the farm managers that have been inaugurated today is that we are stepping into a new era in agricultural intervention in the Southeast, starting from Abia State.
“A lot of responsibility as we speak rests on their shoulders to drive the entire project to great heights of success. We believe that this will be a major turning point in agricultural revolution in this state, one impacting on food security and then improving the economy of our state and our people. So my charge to them is to be committed, be focused and resilient”, he said.
The Governor recalled that the process leading to the inauguration began three months ago when his administration approved the constitution of a 12-man Joint Agricultural Intervention Committee to shape the State’s new agricultural direction.
“Today, we are happy that we are here to dedicate and set forth to the field the farm managers who will be our foot soldiers, the anchor people across the Local Governments concerning the various interventions in Agric in those Local Governments.
“This is purely a project driven by the Local Government but collaborating with the State Government to make it work”, he added
Governor Otti disclosed that each LGA has selected a speciality area, ranging from Piggery with Feed mill and Maggot production, Cassava processing, Poultry Farming, Ginger cultivation, Pepper farming and Processing, among others.
He urged the trainees across the LGAs to take their trainings seriously, noting that the farm managers will oversee implementation of the Joint Agricultural Intervention Project.
Speaking on behalf of the 17 Mayors, the representative of the ALGON Chairman and Mayor of Bende LGA, Deacon Uwabunkeonye Bassey, commended the Governor and the Ministry for the initiative and urged the farm managers to ensure that “the vision of Governor Otti does not die“.
Contributing, one of the Project Consultants, Hon Dannie Ubani, said the joint programme seeks to achieve sustainable food security through the newly established incubation farms that will train young farmers across the LGAs.
He explained that the farms would “turn out highly skilled and qualified farmers for sustainable food security”.
Responding on behalf of the newly inaugurated farm managers, Dr Mrs Glory Nwaogbe pledged their commitment to the project, assuring that they would not disappoint the State Government.
She thanked Governor Otti for the opportunity granted them and vowed to leverage it to promote food security in the State.
