Abia State 2027 Governorship Aspirant, Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu, has raised alarm over what he described as the “progressive collapse” of the agricultural sector in Abia State.
He warned that the government’s inability to strengthen farming systems, support rural producers, and build viable value chains was pushing the state toward deeper food insecurity.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Mascot Uzor-Kalu said that despite the abundance of fertile land across the 17 local government areas, the current administration has shown “no coherent strategy or measurable plan” to accelerate agricultural development. He argued that the state is losing critical ground in an area that should naturally be its greatest economic advantage.
According to him, farmers in Abia are working under extremely difficult conditions. He noted that most communities lack access roads to transport their produce, a situation which has led to high post harvest losses and discouraged many young people from embracing agriculture.
“It is heartbreaking that in 2025, farmers in Abia still carry produce on their heads for several kilometres because there are no accessible feeder roads. What then is the government’s commitment to food security?” he asked.
MUK added that agricultural mechanisation in the state is “almost nonexistent,” with only a handful of tractors available for thousands of smallholder farmers. He criticised the government for what he referred to as “policy announcements without tangible impact,” stressing that many empowerment and farm support programs had been reduced to political propaganda rather than real platforms for growth.
“The world has moved from subsistence farming to technology driven agriculture. But here in Abia, our farmers are still using crude implements because government has failed to invest in mechanisation or partner with the private sector to make modern tools accessible,” he said.
“You cannot talk about food security when farmers lack equipment, extension officers, storage facilities, and access to markets.”
The opposition leader also accused the administration of failing to develop the state’s agricultural value chains, particularly in cassava, palm produce, rice, plantain, and vegetables. He argued that Abia should be leading the South East in agro processing and youth agribusiness startups, but instead, the sector has remained stagnant.
“Our youths are willing to work, but the opportunities are not there,” Mascot Uzor-Kalu stated.
“You cannot grow an economy by ignoring agriculture. You cannot reduce unemployment if you are not building value chains that create jobs. You cannot fight rising food prices if you do not produce enough.”
He called on the state government to immediately roll out a realistic agricultural recovery plan with clear timelines and measurable outputs. He urged the governor to engage experts, revive extension services, establish storage centres in rural communities, support cooperatives, and invest in modern farm technologies.
Chief Mascot Uzor-Kalu concluded by warning that Abia State risks slipping into deeper food dependency if urgent reforms are not implemented.
“Agriculture is not an option; it is a lifeline. Any government that treats it with levity is endangering the future of its people,” he said.
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