The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr Kelechi Anosike, has outlined an ambitious vision for transforming the state’s agricultural sector, pledging massive investments in food production, farmer support and agro-industrial development if elected governor in 2027.
Anosike said agriculture would occupy a central position in his proposed administration’s economic development agenda, describing the sector as a critical pathway to reducing the cost of living, creating employment opportunities and improving food security across the state.
The governorship candidate made the commitment while receiving a delegation of old students of Comprehensive Secondary School, Okoko Item, Bende Local Government Area, who paid him a solidarity visit at his office in Umuahia.
He expressed concern that Abia, despite its fertile agricultural land and production potential, continued to depend heavily on neighbouring states for food supplies, a situation he said contributed to rising food prices and the high cost of living.
According to him, increased investment in agriculture and deliberate support for local farmers would help the state strengthen domestic food production and reduce dependence on external markets.
“Abia remains one of the most expensive states to live in because the government has done little or nothing in agriculture. On a daily basis, heavy trailers bring goods from other states to Abia even though we have fertile land,” he said.
Operation Feed Abia to Drive Agricultural Growth
Anosike identified his proposed Operation Feed Abia programme as a major component of his agricultural transformation agenda.
The initiative, which is designed around a back-to-farm policy, seeks to encourage large-scale food production, empower farmers and make agricultural activities more attractive to young people.
He explained that the programme would focus on increasing agricultural investments, improving farmers’ access to support services and strengthening the state’s food supply system.
The candidate also emphasised the need for government to provide practical incentives that would enable farmers to expand production and earn better incomes.
His proposed agricultural agenda is expected to cover different areas of the food value chain, including crop production, livestock farming, processing, storage and marketing.
Farmers’ Support and Rural Development
The PDP candidate maintained that improving agricultural productivity would require deliberate government intervention to address the challenges confronting farmers across rural communities.
He argued that farmers needed better access to funding, modern agricultural equipment, improved farming practices and reliable markets to maximise their production capacity.
Anosike also linked agricultural development to rural infrastructure, noting that improved road networks and other basic facilities would help farmers transport produce to markets more efficiently.
He has previously proposed establishing an Abia Rural Development Agency to coordinate rural infrastructure, agricultural development, agro-processing and other community-based economic interventions.
Calls for Better Use of Government Revenue
The governorship candidate also questioned the extent to which increased federal allocations to states following the removal of the fuel subsidy had translated into improved living conditions for residents.
He claimed that Abia’s monthly federal allocations, which he said previously stood between ₦3 billion and ₦4 billion, had increased to as much as ₦40 billion.
Anosike argued that such additional revenue should create opportunities for greater investment in agriculture, infrastructure and social welfare programmes capable of reducing the economic burden on households.
He maintained that state governments had an important responsibility to develop practical policies that would improve citizens’ purchasing power and address rising living costs.
Candidate Promises Wider Development Focus
Beyond agriculture, Anosike said his proposed development agenda would prioritise policies aimed at improving the welfare of residents and creating economic opportunities across the state.
During the meeting, he also received a request from the visiting old students for the rehabilitation of their former school, Comprehensive Secondary School, Okoko Item.
The delegation, led by Mr Harold Onyeukwu, appealed for the renovation of existing school structures, construction of perimeter fencing and provision of library and laboratory facilities.
Anosike assured the group that he would consider their requests if elected governor.
The Abia PDP Chairman and Deputy Governorship Candidate, Elder Abraham Amah, commended the delegation for identifying with their former schoolmate, while the Chairman of the party’s Governorship Campaign Council, Ambassador Empire Kanu, said Anosike’s development blueprint reflected the agricultural and industrial development philosophy of the late Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Dr Michael Okpara.
The proposed agricultural transformation agenda comes amid growing concerns over food affordability, farmers’ productivity and the need to strengthen domestic food supply chains.
If implemented, the candidate’s plans would seek to reposition agriculture as a major contributor to Abia’s economic development, rural employment and food security.
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