ABIA – The Governor, Dr Alex Otti in a strategic move to revolutionize the Agricultural sector and ensure good security, has flagged-off a Joint Agricultural Intervention Project for the Seventeen Local government areas of the state.
Speaking while Flagging-off the project at JAAC Secretariat, Ogurube layout, Umuahia, Governor Otti charged the Farm Managers to be committed, focused and resilient in carrying out the assignment given to them.
Governor Otti represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, said that with the inauguration, the State is stepping into a new era in agricultural intervention and self sustainance.
Governor Otti recalled that the journey of the program started about three months ago when the office of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs was given approval to set up a Twelve-Man Committee, called Joint Agricultural Intervention Committee to achieve the vision of the state in agriculture.
He also described the project as one solely driven by the Local Government Areas in collaboration with the state government to achieve success.
The Governor, who listed various agricultural value chains already selected by various Local Government Areas to include piggery, feed mill and maggot farming, ginger, cassava processing, poultry farm, pepper farming, pepper processing plants among others, enjoined trainees from every Local Government Area to take the trainings seriously as the Farm Managers overseas the programme.
Speaking on-behalf of the Mayors of the Seventeen Local Government Areas, the representative of the ALGON Chairman and Mayor of Bende Local Government Area, Deacon Uwabunkeonye Bassey, appreciated the Governor and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for the Initiative, and charged the Seventeen Local Government Areas Farm Managers to keep the Governor’s vision alive.
Contributing, one of the Consultants for the Training, and Managing Director of Fortune Well Farm, Mr. Dannie Ubani, explained that Abia State Government and the Seventeen Local Government Areas of the state intend to achieve food security through the laudable programme.
He informed that the newly established farms in the Seventeen Local Government areas would serve as incubation centres that would train other young farmers and turn out highly skilled and qualified farmers for sustainable food security.
Responding on-behalf of the newly inaugurated Seventeen Farm Managers, Mrs. Glory Nwaogbe, promised to live up to expectations, assuring that they would leverage the programme to achieve food security across the state.
The event which featured the Inauguration of Seventeen Farm Managers Representing each of the Local Government Areas of the state, was attended by Mayors of various Local Government Areas.
