Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, has bemoaned the fact that small-holder farmers, who are the foundation of food production, continue to struggle to obtain financing, advanced agricultural methods, extension services, and trustworthy marketplaces.
While launching the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) program on Thursday, he made this statement.
Otti promised Abia farmers and agricultural development partners that his administration would fully support food security and sufficiency. He was represented by his deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu.
According to him, the initiative’s goals were to improve the lives of Abia’s diligent small-holder farmers, reform agriculture, and boost the rural economy.
Otti revealed that his State has met its funding commitments to its counterparts.
He expressed happiness that the AUDA-NEPAD program would close the gaps by giving Abia farmers access to new technology and expertise, increasing food security and productivity, raising incomes, and lowering poverty in local communities.
In order to increase production and reduce post-harvest losses, the program will help smallholder farmers by providing them with training and new, enhanced inputs, according to Abia State Commissioner for Agriculture Cliff Agbaeze.
Agbaeze stated that 1,000 farmers are participating in the pilot program, which aims to assist 17,000 households in the state’s 17 LGA.