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The Abia State Government has commenced a four-day training programme aimed at improving agricultural extension services and strengthening support for farmers across the state.
The capacity-building exercise, organised by the Abia State Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with the Agricultural Business Incubation Centre of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, commenced on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, and will end on Friday, October 9.
The programme brings together Ward Agricultural Coordinators and extension personnel from across Abia’s 17 Local Government Areas. It is focused on equipping them with practical knowledge needed to assist farmers, monitor government agricultural programmes and provide timely feedback on challenges in farming communities.
With the theme, “Strengthening Grassroots Agricultural Coordination for Sustainable Agricultural Development,” the training covers modern farming practices, crop production, pest and disease control, agricultural waste management, processing, value addition and agribusiness development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, Dr. Mrs Stephanie Ariwodo urged participants to take the sessions seriously and ensure that the knowledge gained is passed on to farmers in their respective communities.
She said the initiative was part of the agricultural transformation programme of the Governor Alex Otti administration, particularly its drive to ensure that government interventions translate into measurable improvements in the lives and livelihoods of farmers.
Ariwodo also highlighted the responsibilities of Ward Agricultural Coordinators in monitoring beneficiaries of the state’s Farmers’ Inputs Support Programme, confirming the distribution and use of farm inputs, identifying farmers’ challenges and communicating such issues to the ministry.
The Vice-Chancellor of MOUAU, Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Development, Prof. Princewill Chukwudo, described the exercise as timely, noting that farmers continue to face challenges including declining soil fertility, rising input costs, climate variability, inadequate extension services, limited mechanisation and poor market access.
She advocated sustainable approaches such as organic farming, integrated soil fertility management, biological pest control and climate-smart agriculture to improve productivity and build resilience within the sector.
Participants are receiving both theoretical and practical instruction from experts drawn from MOUAU-ABIC and the Ministry of Agriculture. Sessions include improved cassava, maize and plantain production, organic fertiliser production from agricultural waste, pest management, crop improvement, processing and value addition.
Some participants who spoke during the programme said the training had broadened their understanding of modern agricultural practices and provided practical solutions that could be taken directly to farmers at the grassroots.
One participant said lessons on smart agriculture, climate preservation, waste-to-wealth initiatives and organic fertiliser production would help extension personnel provide better guidance to farmers and contribute to food security in the state.
Another participant said the cassava production session was particularly useful, noting that improved soil selection, planting methods, crop management and processing techniques could help farmers increase yields and move from subsistence farming to more commercially profitable agriculture.
The training is expected to improve the quality of extension services across Abia, strengthen communication between farmers and government, reduce post-harvest losses and increase agricultural productivity.
The initiative also forms part of the state government’s broader effort to reposition agriculture as a major economic activity capable of creating employment, increasing rural incomes, supporting food security and expanding agribusiness opportunities across Abia.
