By Stella Okpalaeze
The Anambra Government has distributed 4,480 bags of fertiliser to farmers under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme to boost agricultural productivity and food security.
The distribution was announced at the 2026 World Food Day celebration organised by the State Ministry of Agriculture on Oct. 16 at the Agricultural Development Programme Complex, Awka. The event had the theme, “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow.”
The allocation represents Anambra’s 40 per cent share of the 11,200 bags supplied to the state through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF).
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Ben Odoemena, represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Clement Aguiyi, said World Food Day provided an opportunity to recognise farmers’ contributions and renew commitment to ensuring access to sufficient, safe and affordable food.
He said farmers must remain central to agricultural policies and programmes, adding that food security began with production at the farm level.
Odoemena said the state had distributed more than two million seedlings of tree crops, including oil palm, coconut, breadfruit and citrus, to communities.
He added that some of the oil palm and coconut trees had started fruiting, providing additional income for beneficiary households and supporting efforts to reduce poverty.
According to him, the second phase of the programme will focus on establishing plantations to strengthen the state’s agro industrial sector.
The commissioner also highlighted interventions in rice production, including mechanisation support, the provision of a transformer at the Omor Irrigation Water Head to improve irrigation services and rural road development to ease the transportation of farm produce to markets.
He said the ministry was developing the Anambra State Agribusiness Transformation Strategy to promote agro industrialisation, improve market access and increase agricultural productivity and investment.
Odoemena said the state was aligning its agricultural development efforts with federal programmes, including the National Community Food Bank Programme and the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience Enhancement (NG-CARES), to support vulnerable households and improve agricultural livelihoods.
The celebration featured an exhibition of agricultural produce and value added food products processed from crops grown in various communities across the state.
The commissioner urged farmers and investors to adopt improved seeds, irrigation, mechanisation and climate smart agricultural practices. He also encouraged women and young people to explore opportunities in processing, logistics, marketing, technology and agricultural finance.
He said the government remained committed to developing an agricultural sector capable of improving food supply, creating jobs, reducing poverty and generating sustainable wealth.
Traditional rulers, community leaders, farmers, members of the Value Chain Development Programme, (VCDP), and other agricultural stakeholders attended the event.
Stella Okpalaeze is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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