Abia To Join NALDA On FG’s Agricultural Programme

The Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, set to partner with National Agricultural Land Development Agency, NALDA, on Federal Government’s Back-To-Farm programme.

This was released in a statement signed by Director, Communications, NALDA, Tope Ojeme, when Ikpeazu received a delegation of NALDA, led by the Executive Secretary, Prince Paul Ikonne, at the Government House, Umuahia, on a working visit to the State.

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He also said that his administration had embarked on building cottage industries in the 17 Local Government Areas of the State, which according to him, the main objective behind his efforts on agribusiness development is basically to position Abia State as a major food processing hub in the South East.

He also promised to collaborate with NALDA in critical areas that would ensure value addition in galvanizing the agricultural sector of the State.

According to the Governor, Abia State remains willing to partner with NALDA, especially to make the state-owned Ogwe Golden Chicken in Ukwa West Local Government Area become functional and productive.

However, he lamented the challenge of gully erosion that has negatively impacted agriculture and other activities in the State, which demands urgent intervention from the Federal Government to tackle the devastating menace.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary, NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne, said the mandate of the agency was to ensure the availability of food, as it had rolled out two schemes, namely Back to Farm and National Young Farmers Scheme, which Abia had been selected among the pilot states.

Ikonne also expressed the readiness of the agency to partner with the state government to resuscitate the Ogwe Golden Chicken Farm.