The Abia State Government has approved the establishment of a CSS-type large-scale integrated farming structure in the state. The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this during a press briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
The state government is establishing the farm to strengthen food security in the state. The project aims to boost food production capacity and provide a training ground for youths to go into agriculture and agribusiness. About 302 young Abians were trained at CSS farms in Nasarawa state last year, and the state government is now bringing the program to Abia.
The success rate of the first phase of the exercise is put at over 80%. Beneficiaries who used the funds judiciously and trained at least three new farmers will be adequately encouraged. Some promises were made to the incubatees that they would be identified and empowered after their training to go into different areas of agriculture.
However, about 26 beneficiaries who did not make themselves available for access or supervision of their projects will face serious sanctions. They cannot adequately account for the funds extended to them.
The state government has approved support for farmers with improved inputs, which will be rolled out in the next couple of weeks. The distribution will be based on the database from the Ministry of Agriculture, which was compiled during the farmers' enumeration exercise.
The Ministry of Lands and Housing is conducting an aerial imagery of Abia's 4,795.74 square kilometers space, including a radar and 2D line mapping of Aba and Umuahia. This effort is meant to strengthen the efficient delivery of services of the Ministry and enable the government to know the extent of lands in Abia and areas where government projects can be carried out.
The Abia State Government's initiatives aim to promote agriculture, improve food security, and enhance the state's economy. The government is committed to supporting farmers and youths in the state to achieve these goals.
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