Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State on Thursday inaugurated the 2015 Farming Season in the state, promising to intensify support for farmers to ensure bountiful harvest.
Obiano, who declared the Farming Season open at Otuocha in the Anambra East Local Council Area, said his vision for agriculture would make the state self-sufficient in food.
He assured the farmers sufficiency in rice, cassava and fish production within the first four years of his administration.
“We would ensure that agriculture contributes at least 40 per cent of the state’s Gross Domestic Product.”
The governor said his administration had kept faith with its vision and had attracted over 800 million Dollars investment into the agricultural sector in the past one year.
He noted that with the development, it was clear that the vision of making the state one of the top three agricultural states in the federation was achievable.
Obiano said that his administration had introduced creative ways of multiplying the prospect of farming as a rewarding enterprise for farmers as part of efforts to revolutionise the agriculture sector.
“My government is enhancing farmers’ productivity in a more sustainable way through strategic partnerships that will lead to improved yield.
`Efforts are ongoing to develop a large market that will absorb the abundant harvest expected from the farming season,’’ he said. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, lauded the state for remaining consistent in the annual flag-off event.
Adesina said that the state had distinguished itself in supporting the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda through prompt payment of its counterpart funding.
The minister was represented by the South East Regional Director in the ministry, Dr Uche Nwafor.
The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Afam Mbanefo, expressed confidence that the state’s blueprint on agriculture would encourage healthy competition among farmers. NAN
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