Governor disburses N250m on improved seedlings for 2016 farming

IN pursuit of its commitment towards mass production of agricultural produce in 2026 and beyond, the Anambra State Government has invested above N250 million in the purchase and acquisition of improved high-yielding seedlings for distributed to the farmers in the state for this year’s farming season.

Gov Willie Obiano disclosed this while playing host to the visiting joint delegation from the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development at the Governor’s Lodge, Awka on Monday.

The delegation came to inspect ongoing FADAMA projects in parts of the state.

In a statement by Kingsley Ezekwelu, Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, Anambra State is one of the six states in the country benefitting from the FADAMA programme.

The team will also explore other areas of partnership with state in Agricultural development, Youth and Women Empowerment.

The governor disclosed that his administration is sustaining its exploits in the agriculture sector to ensure the State achieves food sufficiency across all its major crop belts and generate surplus for export.

He revealed that during the formal launch of the 2016 Farming Season billed for next week, the state government will be handing over cheques to some Agro-based firms to boost their operations. And that through the well-structured system of loan recovery already entrenched through the State’s Small Business Agency (ASBA), the monies will be put to proper use.

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The Anambra state governor noted that out of the total 24 major investments which his administration had attracted, 9 are agro-based. He pointed out the premium his administration places on agriculture as its number one development pillar and thanked the Programme for its support.

He assured that Anambra under his watch will maintain its pole position in the partnership with the programme by promptly meeting its obligation for the collaboration.

Earlier, the Leader of the Delegation and FADAMA Task Team Leader with the World Bank, Mr Adetunji Oredipe said that Anambra has remained exemplary in its commitment towards prompt meeting with its counterpart obligation, and commended the governor for his high performance in the execution of the FADAMA 3 programme which he attributed to the sanity and organisation it has entrenched.

According to Mr Oredipe, the programme has keyed into the State’s Agric Vision and plans to support the Government towards its realization in the areas of landclearing, tractor services, rural infrastructural development, youth and women empowerment, strengthening farmers-offtakers relationship amongst others.

The state Commissioner for Agricuture, Mechanisation and Export, Mr Afam Mbanefo said the State’s collaborative efforts with FADAMA has availed farmers in the state so much not only in the area of provision of technical support and farm inputs but also in the upgrade of infrastructure at the rural places.

In his remarks, an Agro-expert with the National FADAMA office, Mr Bernard Herbert said with the support they are getting from Gov Obiano, the programme is sure to achieve its set objectives in the state.