Abia Gov’t to build credible database on agriculture in partnership with Kitovu technology company
Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
In a bid to revitalize the Agricultural sector and improve food production, the Government of Abia state, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has entered into a partnership with Kitovu Technology Company to introduce a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering farmers and enhancing Agricultural productivity in the State.
The agreement for this partnership was contained in a press release signed by Oluchi Franklin-Oji, Public Relations Officer, State Ministry of Agriculture, and made available to our reporter in Umuahia on Monday.
The partnership was announced during a meeting which was held at the Ministry’s Headquarters, Umuahia, between farmers in the state, farmers’ associations, critical agriculture stakeholders, and the management team of the ministry ably led by the Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbaeze.
According to the Commissioner, the initiative seeks to, among many benefits, identify genuine farmers, link communities to commodities, build a credible Agricultural database, and develop an Agric map for Abia State.
He explained that the initiative will enable the government and other agricultural development agencies to provide targeted interventions and support to farmers towards improving Agricultural productivity and food sufficiency.
He stated that the ministry will be visiting farmers in their various Local Government Areas in the coming days to carry out proper agricultural needs assessment in the communities.
Dr. Agbaeze used the forum to appreciate the Visionary Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti for finding him worthy to serve as commissioner for Agriculture in the state at such a time as this when feeding has become a major challenge for most homes.
He vowed that the onerous task of revamping the Agricultural sector in the state would not be taken lightly.
Earlier In his remarks, the CEO of Kitovu Technology Company, Mr. Nwachinemere Emeka, explained that their technology will help gather accurate data, process it, and store it in the “cloud” for future use. He urged farmers to cooperate with the exercise and inform others about the proposed farmers’ enumeration in the state.
He explained that the initiative is expected to address concerns about soil productivity, climate change, and incorrect pesticide use, which have been among the major challenges facing farmers in the state adding that, With this partnership, Abia State is poised to become a leading Agricultural hub in Nigeria by providing opportunities for farmers, investors, and other stakeholders in the sector.
