Abia To Partner ARMTI To Upgrade Subsistence Agriculture To Business

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, Has Announced Plans To Partner With The Agriculture And Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) To Upgrade Subsistence Agriculture In The State Into A Structured And Profitable Business Sector.

The Governor Made This Known On Tuesday, October 21st, When He Received A Delegation From ARMTI, Led By Its Executive Director, Dr. Olufeme Oladunni, At The Government House, Umuahia.

Governor Otti Described Abia As A State With A Strong Agricultural Base, Where About 70 Percent Of The Population Engage In One Form Of Agricultural Activity Or Another. He Explained That His Administration Is Focused On Turning Farming From Mere Survival To A Viable Economic Venture.

“This Is A Place Where 70 Percent Of The Population Engage In Agriculture One Way Or The Other. A Smaller Percentage Are Engaged In Commercial Agriculture, But We Are Looking At Upgrading Those Whether In Subsistence Or Commercial Farming To Business Because We See Agriculture As Business,” The Governor Said.

He Noted That Agriculture Currently Accounts For About 23 To 24 Percent Of The State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), And That With Proper Training And Climate-Smart Practices, Its Contribution Could Increase Significantly, While Reducing Unemployment And Generating More Revenue For The Government.

Governor Otti Recalled That His Administration Sponsored Over 300 Young Abians To Receive Intensive Agricultural Training At CSS Farms, Nasarawa State, Last Year, Adding That About 298 Of Them Have Since Become Active Farmers. He Said This Underscored The State’s Commitment To Developing A New Generation Of Agripreneurs.

While Thanking The ARMTI Delegation For Choosing Abia As Its Regional Headquarters In The Southeast, The Governor Described The Decision As A Strategic One.

“You Couldn’t Have Made A Better Decision Because We Have The Right People Who Will Support You. I Know That There Are Still Areas Where We Can Do More To Support Your Work,” He Said.

Governor Otti Directed The Director General Of The Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA) To Ensure That ARMTI Receives Full Support In Terms Of Accommodation, Office Space, And Staffing. He Also Commended The GODA DG For His Commitment To Rural Development.

Earlier In His Remarks, The Executive Director Of ARMTI, Dr. Olufeme Oladunni, Explained That The Institute Is Mandated To Train Youths And Farmers Across Nigeria To Improve Productivity And Sustainability. He Expressed The Institute’s Readiness To Collaborate With The Abia State Government To Execute Strategic Agricultural Projects.

Dr. Oladunni Mentioned That ARMTI Operates Several Development Programs, Including The Village Alive Development Initiative, Which Could Be Integrated With GODA’s Efforts To Enhance Rural Agricultural Productivity In The State.

He Commended Governor Otti For His Visionary Leadership And Dedication To Transforming Abia’s Economy Through Agriculture.

The Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, The Special Adviser To The Governor On Agriculture, And The Director General Of GODA Were Among The Officials Present During The Visit.