By CHARLES IWUOHA

Abia State government has commenced the process of taking back abandoned and under-utilised farm settlements across the State.

Governor Alex Otti stated this while receiving in audience, a delegation of the Executive Management Committee of the Anambra - Imo River Basin Development Authority, led by its Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Anosike, who paid him a working visit.

Governor Otti described agriculture as the mainstay of Nigeria's economy and disclosed that Abia State Government is working on transiting from the popular subsistence agriculture to commercial agriculture with its value-chain.

"I can assure you that we have virtually all the data we require. Some farm settlements were set up by our forefathers, the Michael Okparas of this world. And subsequently either abandoned or underutilised.

"We have started the process of taking them back, setting them up; getting them to work.

"Agriculture, anyhow you look at it, is the highest employer of labour. Not just in Africa, but in Nigeria.

"So, we are working on transiting from the kind of agriculture that we call subsistence farming to commercial and mechanised farming with the value-chain.

"Instead of selling cocoa beans, we want to be able to sell chocolate," Gov. Otti stated.

The Governor assured the visiting team, that he is willing to collaborate with them to achieve food sufficiency and grow the economy of Abia State.

"So, I want to reassure you that we will be very, very pleased to work collaboratively with you and your team.

"Of course, we have land. So, we will just form a team and engage with you (board of Anambra - Imo River Basin).

"And, I want us to hit the ground running, because there is no time. So, once you identify the low-hanging fruits, let's start from there. And we can now move to a few more complicated areas" the Governor added.

He directed the Commissioners for Agriculture, Lands and Power & Public Utilities and other relevant MDAs to be part of the team that would be working with the Anambra - Imo River Basin Development Authority to ensure the success of the collaboration.

The Governor added that, the State has done so much in the area of power and is not yet satisfied, "We are still moving because we believe that it is central to virtually everything we are doing," Gov. Otti stated.

Governor Otti acknowledged the personal support he has been receiving from Senator Anosike since 2014, when he joined politics and commended him greatly.

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the board and leader of the Executive Management Committee of the Anambra Imo River Basin Development Authority, Senator Emmanuel Anosike disclosed that they came to present themselves to the Governor as a newly inaugurated board by Mr. President and to tell him that they are willing to collaborate with the State government in agricultural development and other areas as well.

"In this Country, we have 12 River Basin Authorities. And this Anambra - Imo River Basin represents the five States in the South-East geopolitical zone.

"We have decided to visit all the Governors that we are covering. And today we came to Abia State Governor to discuss collaboration between Anambra - Imo River Basin and the State government.

"Of course, the South East Development Commission is also collaborating with us. We own the land; we have so much land to use for agriculture. So, they are trying to work with us to develop most of those places.

"We have a strong irrigation project in Abia. Before, we used to have Anambra - Imo rice, Anambra - Imo chicken, Anambra - Imo eggs, and so on" Senator Anosike stated.

He added that, apart from agriculture, they are also into solar panels and other things, saying that "there are a lot of places we can also collaborate to bring this closer to Abia."

The Governor was joined in the working visit by the acting Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Honourable Commissioners for Agriculture, Power and Public Utilities, Lands, DG PPP and Investment Promotion, DG - Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), DG - Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA), GM - Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), among others.