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Governor, Alex Otti of Abia State has said that his administration will partner the Agriculture and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) to upgrade subsistence Agriculture in Abia State to business.
A post on Wednesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, revealed that Otti stated this on Tuesday while receiving in his office, a delegation of the Agriculture and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) led by its Executive Director, Dr Olufeme Oladunni.
The Governor described Abia State as a place where 70% of the population engage in one form of agricultural activity or another, saying that, if supported, the result would be more positive.
According to the Governor, “This is a place where 70% 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.
“About 23-24% of our GDP is accounted for by agriculture, so, you cannot ignore agriculture. And a lot of people still do it on a subsistence level.
“So, with the kind of training and with the climate smart Agriculture, I believe that the contribution to GDP can go up, reduce unemployment, and also generate revenue for the Government.
During the visit, Gov Otti also informed the delegation that his government had spent some money last year to train over 300 young people in Agriculture at the CSS farms, in Nasarawa State in which about 298 of them have become serious farmers today, saying that the State is willing to partner with them.
While thanking the Agriculture and Rural Management Training Institute for the decision to launch its project in Abia and making Abia its regional headquarters in the Southeast, the State Chief Executive maintained that they made a good decision;
Governor Otti directed the Director General, Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA) to ensure that they are comfortable in terms of accommodation, office space, getting the right people among others and commended the GODA DG for his efforts.
Earlier, the Executive Director, Agriculture and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) Dr Olufeme Oladunni, while describing their office, as one with the mandate of training people especially youths in agriculture, stated their readiness to work with Abia State Government under the leadership of Governor Otti.
He informed that they have programmes such as Village Alive Development Initiative, adding that they are willing to work with an agency like the Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA) to develop a proposal for the Agriculture project.
Dr Oladunni commended Governor Otti for his good and exemplary leadership in the State.
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