Governor Okezie Ikpeazu says the State Government is ever willing and prepared to enter into productive partnerships with development partners, especially in the area of Agriculture for the good of the people of Abia State.
The Governor stated this while receiving in audience a delegation of the World Bank Funded Agro Processing Productivity Enhancement & Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project led by National Procurement Specialist, Engr. Abdulgafar Kayode who called on him. He assured that the State would do everything within its powers including payment of second tranche of counterpart fund to ensure the project succeeds in Abia.
Governor Ikpeazu said the project is in line with his administration’s agricultural policy maintaining that agriculture remains the key for sustainable development. He informed the delegation that he is establishing Agro based Cottage Industries in all the 17 LGAs in the State commencing with 7 pilot Local Government Areas, saying that it would reduce rural-urban drift in the State and improve the economy as agriculture has been known to provide jobs and raw materials for industries.
According to the Governor, machines for the 7 pilot LGAs procured from the TinyTech Corporation of India have already arrived the State.
Governor Ikpeazu equally disclosed that the State Government has already established Abia State Marketing and Quality Control Agency that ensures standardization of agricultural products produced in the State.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Ikechi Mgboji informed that the State is ready for the project. He said, they have shown the team the office provided for it and vehicles made available for it as well as taken them to poultry cluster, farm settlements among others. He expressed hope that with the level of preparedness, Abia State would be qualified for the project.
Earlier in his speech, the leader of the delegation and National Procurement Specialist, Agro Processing Productivity Enhancement & Livelihood Improvement Support (APPELIS) project , Engr. Abdulgafar Kayode said the team was in the State to ascertain the readiness of the State in participating in the special agricultural project and to finalize discussions in that regard.
He appreciated the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for supporting the project in the State and for being the first to pay counterpart fund for the project. He said the team is happy with what the Governor is doing, adding that since the program is equally in line with the Governor’s policy thrust, he would authorize thr payment of the second tranche of the Counterpart Fund.
Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
7th January, 2021.
