Abia Govt begins monitoring, guidance for beneficiaries of agric input

The Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, FCIB, has disclosed that the Abia State Government has commenced a farm-to-harvest monitoring strategy to ensure that beneficiaries of the ongoing Phase Two Farm Inputs Distribution Programme properly utilize the inputs provided to them.

The Commissioner stated this while speaking with newsmen in his office in Umuahia on Tuesday, noting that the government’s responsibility goes beyond the distribution of farm inputs.

According to him, the monitoring and provision of technical guidance are being carried out in collaboration with the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Agribusiness Incubation Centre (MOUAU-ABIC).

He explained that Agricultural officers are visiting beneficiaries on their farms across the 17 Local Government Areas to monitor the proper use of improved seedlings, fertilizers and agrochemicals, while tracking their progress from planting through cultivation to harvest.

Dr. Agbaeze said the Phase Two programme is targeted at 15,322 additional farmers, building on Phase One, which benefited 3,312 farmers. He stressed that the intervention is focused on genuine, database-captured farmers to promote transparency and accountability.

The Commissioner noted that the farm-to-harvest approach would enable the Ministry to identify challenges early, provide necessary extension support and assess the actual impact of government’s Agricultural investment.

He said the initiative is part of the administration of His Excellency, Dr. Alex C. Otti, OFR, to transform Agriculture from subsistence farming into a modern, productive and commercially viable Agribusiness sector.

Dr. Agbaeze assured farmers of the Ministry’s continued support, emphasizing that government support does not end with the distribution of inputs, but follows the farmer from the farm to harvest.

Abia State Ministry of Agriculture
Wednesday 9th September, 2026