Abia Assembly Takes Delivery of Farm Inputs for Constituency Distribution

The Ministry of Agriculture, Abia State has handed over farm inputs to Members of the State House of Assembly for onward distribution to profiled farmers across their respective constituencies.

Speaking during the handover, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, stated that the exercise is part of the State Government’s ongoing Farmers’ Inputs Support Programme, aimed at improving Agricultural productivity, empowering farmers, and strengthening food security across Abia State.

The Commissioner recalled that the first phase of the programme was successfully flagged off on July 10, 2026, with 3,312 farmers across the 184 wards benefiting from the intervention.

He explained that the current exercise represents Phase Two and a continuation of the Farmers’ Inputs Support Programme, targeting an additional 15,322 farmers across the State.

Dr. Agbaeze further stated that, under the current phase, 615 profiled farmers will be reached through the Members of the Abia State House of Assembly.

He noted that the identified farmers have already been contacted directly to facilitate necessary follow-up and ensure effective delivery of the inputs.

The inputs, comprising improved seedlings, fertilizers, and agrochemicals, are part of the Agricultural Intervention Programme of Dr. Alex Otti, aimed at boosting food production, supporting smallholder farmers, and strengthening food security across the State.

The Commissioner emphasized that the intervention is data-driven and targeted, with beneficiaries selected from the Ministry’s Farmers’ Database to ensure that genuine and profiled farmers receive the support.

The Ministry is also distributing farm inputs to the various 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) through their respective Mayors as part of the ongoing intervention. Umuahia North and Bende LGAs have already taken delivery of the farm inputs following the commencement of the LGA-level distribution last week.

The distribution exercise will continue progressively until all 17 LGAs are covered, ensuring that farmers across the State benefit from the intervention.

As part of efforts to ensure that the desired outcomes of the programme are achieved, the Ministry is collaborating with the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), through its Agricultural Business Incubation Centre (ABIC), for the provision of training, capacity building, extension services, and hands-on monitoring of the beneficiaries.

Speaking on the capacity-building and monitoring component of the programme, the Director of MOUAU ABIC, Dr. Oteh, explained that the collaboration is designed to equip beneficiaries with the requisite knowledge and practical skills to effectively utilize the farm inputs and improve their productivity.

He emphasized that the extension and hands-on monitoring component will enable the implementing partners to track the progress of beneficiaries, provide technical guidance, identify challenges early, and ensure that the intended objectives of the intervention are achieved.

Speaking on behalf of the House, the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Dennis Rowland Chinwendu, commended Governor Alex Otti for the initiative and pledged the commitment of the lawmakers to ensuring that the inputs reach the intended beneficiaries.

He stated that the lawmakers would work closely with Traditional Rulers, Ward Leaders, and Extension Agents to promote transparency and ensure effective implementation of the programme.

The Abia State Government remains committed to a data-driven, transparent, inclusive, and sustainable Agricultural programme that empowers farmers, increases food production, creates economic opportunities, and strengthens food security across the State.

Credit: Oluchi Franklin-Oji

Public Relations Officer

Abia State Ministry of Agriculture