South East breaking News
The Abia State in collaboration with African Union Development Agency-partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) has organized a 2-Day Capacity building for farmers in the State to teach them the various innovations in farming which can help strengthen small holders farmers initiative, with charged to the farmers to reciprocate the kind gesture of Governor Alex Otti by making good use of the opportunity and support provided to improve their productivity.
The program which attracted farmers from the 17th LGA of the State, took place on the 29th-30th July,2026 and was held at Bishop Nwedo Pastoral Center Umuahia.
The AUDA-NEPAD Project which successfully concluded a capacity building training for about 2,000 smallholder farmers have so far been supported with improved agricultural inputs under the project.
In her welcome address, the State Project Coordinator, Mrs. Catherine Osondu,welcomed the farmers to the program,re-emphasized the project objective which she said is to improve the productivity and resilience of Small Holder farmers climate shocks, adding That it is designed to address some of the challenges farmers face like lack of information on modern technologies,adverse impacts of climate change and post harvest losses, among others.
She maintained, the capacity building training will equip the farmers with the right knowledge, skills and mindset to transform agriculture from mere subsistence into a productive and sustainable enterprise as well as preparing farmers to cope with the changing realities of the climate, having embraced farming as a profession and not just a way to survive.
She disclosed that the beneficiaries who were drawn from the 17 LGAs of the state received agricultural inputs such as cassava stems, rice seeds, plantain suckers, oil palm seedlings, maize seeds, day-old chicks, juvenile fish, vegetable seeds, feed, medication, vaccines, herbicides and fertilizers.
Speaking further,she stated that the program is currently being collaborated with other sister agencies like Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike (NRCRI), Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) and the Ministry of Agriculture in the areas of capacity building and others to ensure that farmers keep abreast with current technologies in agriculture.
She emphasized,the program is designed to address some of the challenges facing small holder farmers like lack of information on modern technologies, adverse impacts of climate changes and post harvest losses.
She expressed appreciation to His Excellency the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, for providing the necessary support for the project implementation.
The training which was participatory and interactive,gave the farmers the opportunity to be exposed to best agronomic practices in the different value chains of crops and livestock production, climate-smart agriculture, record keeping, value addition, sustainable waste management: compost making and Black Soldier Fly technology.
The participants expressed their appreciations for being part of the training and extended their gratitude to the State Government ably led by His Excellency Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, and to the Ministry of Agriculture, especially the Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, for the good work being done through the AUDA-NEPAD project.
In their separate goodwill messages Mr John Oha and Mrs Chinwe Ochiagha who participated in the training, expressed appreciation to the Abia State Governor,Dr Alex Otti,the Ministry of Agriculture and the Coordinator of AUDA – NEPAD Mrs. Catherine Osondu for all they are doing and promised to adopt the new technologies they were exposed to their improved productivity, increased income, better livelihood and food security.