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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Government has lauded The Sun Media Foundation for its care of women farmers in the state and bringing their challenges to limelight. The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Ngozi Felix made the commendation in Umuahia during a one-day sensitization programme the Foundation organised for Women farmers in the state.
Represented by Mrs Chinyere Nwogwugwu, a director in the Ministry, the Commissioner said but for the foundation, activities of the women farmers and the challenges they are facing could have remained unknown.
She disclosed that the present administration in Abia State was all out to make the lots of women better in all spheres of life. The commissioner told the women farmers that the Dr Alex Otti’s administration through her ministry was doing everything possible to ensure gender equality in the state. She urged the women farmers group to register their organisation with the ministry as to be able to benefit from whatever largesse the government would be giving out. The Commissioner, Ministry of Environment represented by Obinna Onyebuchi regretted that it was as a result of neglect by past administrations in the state in the area of flood, the state became prone to erosion.
She expressed joy that the present administration has come to remedy the situation, adding that at present, three erosion sites were being tackled in the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbaeze said the present administration in the state was one that recognises the role of women as agents of development, adding it was for this reason Dr Otti has appointed many women in his administration.
Agbaeze said as Labour Party government, Otti’s administration was working to transmit the state from a mere consumption to production economy. The SA disclosed that out of 3,620 square kilometres land for agriculture in Abia, only 387 farmlands have been cultivated.
He said the scenario was going to change as the present government was aiming to transit Abia from a subsistence farming state, to that of a commercial production one.
