By Ikechukwu Iroha.

Our economy is blessed with natural resources, yet we suffer in the midst of plenty. Poverty rate in Nigeria is high compared with indices from other African countries despite its higher Gross Domestic Products.

We can boast of over 85% of arable land yet less than 45% is cultivated despite the large population and constant increase in unemployment.

Ikpeazu

Immediately after independence, Nigeria developed her first national plan in Agriculture which laid emphasis on the introduction of modern agricultural methods through farm settlements, co-operative farming and a greatly expanded agricultural extension services.

During these periods, some strategic development schemes and interventions were initiated to fast tract the plan. National Accelerated Food production Programme, Farm settlement Schemes,Operation feed the nation, Green revolution ,Agric development projects amongst others.

Each of the above programmes sought to improve food production which represented major feasible demonstration of the integrated approach to agricultural development in Nigeria.

In Nigeria today, it can be argued that we have lost touch of the efforts of our past leaders who saw development in Agriculture as a major breakthrough. Nigeria was widely and economically blessed for exporting Cocoa, Groundnut,Rubber,Cotton and palm oil until Crude Oil was discovered

Is Crude Oil discovery a Curse or a blessing?

Despite the huge infrastructural development recorded with proceeds from the downstream sector, it can still be implied that over dependence on oil is one of the reasons for increased rate of unemployment in Nigeria owing to the fact that other sectors became unattractive to the teeming population of youths especially as Govt reduced efforts at encouraging Agriculture.

Now that we are back to our senses, diversification from the mono economy will yield results in Nigeria as crude oil price dive has resulted to a strong meltdown in our economy. Agriculture will improve and provide food and raw materials which will also benefit manufacturing sector.

We need to attain self sufficiency in the area of food production as a State and country Which in turn will also discourage heavy dependence on importation. The level of unemployment will be greatly reduced once Agric gets Government attention. To a large extent, Agriculture can help decongest cities as people can comfortably harness resources at rural farm settlements.

Abia State has launched the go back to Agriculture project. There is no known reason any man should deny himself the opportunity of being a producer of food.

Abia Youth empowerment in Agricultural programme presents an opportunity for unemployed youths to engage in different Agricultural value chain through training and empowerment.

Abia youths will be engaged in Cocoa,cassava,Plantain,palm oil production and processing, fishery, piggery, poultry management; snail, grass cutter and cattle rearing and many other Agricultural activities that will sustain our economy and generate revenue for the State.

Agriculture is expected to provide the lead in the growth for socio-economic development in the State.

With the available arable land and favourable climatic factors for the growth of numerous food and crops, agriculture has the potential that will drive our food sufficiency objective which meets the Sustainable Development Goal of bringing an end to hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

Abia State is pursuing to meet the critical target for the 2016 State local AETA Programme.

Government of Dr Ikpeazu is Supporting private and public sector nursery operators and Farm Estates to raise mature seedlings and also replace old and unproductive semi-wide grove palms with improved high yielding Tenera Species across the State.This will enable us benefit from the poverty reduction, employment and wealth creation component of the programme.

Government of Dr Ikpeazu is Supporting private and public sector nursery operators and Farm Estates to raise mature seedlings and also replace aging and unproductive grove palms with improved high yielding Tenera Species across the State. Abia State is seeking to Sustain the ongoing efforts at Increasing Land cultivation in the State to about 45% of the total arable land including increase to value-addition to commodities.

In same tendency, to increase the Number of registered Agricultural cooperative societies by 25% will increase participation of indigenes in Agriculture. P

Abia State is in safe hands.

Ikechukwu Iroha is a public analyst based in Umuahia, Abia State.