Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has announced plans by the State Government to partner the Nationwide Agricultural Mechanization Company of Nigeria Limited (NAMCON) to expand mechanised agriculture, boost food production and create employment opportunities across the State.
Governor Otti made the announcement when he received a delegation of NAMCON and its Chinese partners at Government House, Umuahia.
The Governor said that the proposed investment aligns with his administration’s vision of transforming agriculture into a modern, productive and commercially viable sector.
He noted that agriculture remains a major economic activity for many residents of the State, adding that strengthening mechanised farming would improve productivity and make farming more profitable.
Governor Otti commended the company’s decision to upgrade agricultural practices through mechanisation and assured the delegation of the State Government’s readiness to support the initiative.
He said the partnership would be particularly beneficial in addressing the twin challenges of food security and unemployment and stressed that his administration is committed to creating opportunities that would improve the livelihoods of the people.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbaeze, commended the Governor for creating an enabling environment that attracts strategic partnerships capable of transforming the agricultural sector.
Dr Agbaeze said the State possesses vast arable land and is ready to collaborate with investors interested in large-scale mechanised farming.
He noted that the proposal by NAMCON aligns with the present administration’s agricultural transformation agenda.
Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NAMCON, Dr Aminu Abdulkadri, said the delegation visited the styate to brief the Governor on plans to establish mechanised agricultural centres in 13 locations across Abia.
He explained that the centres would provide comprehensive agricultural solutions for rural farmers, which would enable them to maximise the State’s agricultural potential.
According to Abdulkadri, the project will include the establishment of agricultural clinics where farmers can access a range of services, including tractor services, improved seedlings, herbicides, fertilisers, agronomic support, training, storage facilities and supervision.
He said the initiative is designed to make agriculture more attractive to young people by turning farming into a profitable venture capable of generating sustainable income.
The NAMCON boss added that the project would create jobs, reduce poverty and contribute significantly to the State’s economic growth and development.
Abdulkadri noted that the initiative aligns with the visionary leadership of Governor Otti, noting that the present administration has recorded notable progress across several sectors of the state economy.
He added that the company looks forward to partnering with the Abia State Government to support farmers, particularly smallholder farmers, and unlock the full agricultural potential of the State.
