Obiano Disburses N4.1Bn For 2018 Agric Season
Loading ...…eyes enhanced bumper harvest
By Kingsley Ezekwelu
Gov Willie Obiano has said that Anambra state Government is to disburse the sum of N4.1 billion to strategically develop its agricultural initiative to boost production capacity of the state in the 2018 farming season.
The governor revealed this during the inauguration of the 2018 Farming Season in the State, held at Central School field Atani, in Ogbaru LGA.
Gov Obiano during the ceremony inspected the various stands where all kinds of fresh Agricultural produce and packaged products were exhibited and displayed.
The event with the theme, “Developing Modern Agriculture through Cluster Farming Sustainability “, also witnessed the launch of Cluster-based Farming initiative in the State as well as distribution of motorbikes, farm inputs and machineries to registered farmers across the state.
Inaugurating the farming season, the Governor explained that of the total sum, N1.5bn was for land development, N2bn for infrastructure and the remaining 600million was for Agric inputs and machineries.
He said his administration will introduce a Mobile App for Agric Extension and Gamer Information Management System, adding that a comprehensive 4-year development plan has been evolved for different agricultural produce and farm types to increase productivity and effective land utilization.
According to him, what his administration aims to achieve in the coming years, is an agricultural system that will feed the people, protect the environment and return investments.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbe who was represented by the Regional Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Nnamdi Ibezim said the Obiano administration has distinguished itself by its effective implementation of good Agric policies.
He said the Ministry is proud of what the governor had done in encouraging farmers to improve their practice.
In a goodwill message, a representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Chuks Sokari said the bank was poised to working with the state to create jobs and alleviate poverty through Agriculture.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing and Export, Mr Afam Mbanefo explained that the present administration is desirous to seeing small holder farmers more empowered, hence the introduction of the Cluster-based farming initiative to enable them share resources for production and collective marketing of their produce as well as to encourage the production of target crops for backward integration.
The Special Adviser to the governor on Farm Implements and Mechanization, Mr Paul Nwosu thanked Governor Obiano for his vested interest in repositioning the State Agricultural sector, noting that with the initiatives he is evolving, Anambra will in the near future be a frontline agriculture state.
