Abia’s agriculture is on life support, according to the state 2027 Governorship Aspirant, Sir Mascot Uzor-Kalu, who is ringing the alarm bell.
The former Chief of Staff says the sector is in “progressive collapse,” warning that the state is gravitating toward a full-blown food crisis.
In a statement on Wednesday, Kalu criticised the current administration for showing “no coherent strategy or measurable plan” to harness Abia’s fertile lands across 17 local government areas.
He warned that government neglect is pushing farmers, and the state, into deeper insecurity.
“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.
Kalu said mechanisation is “almost nonexistent,” with just a handful of tractors for thousands of farmers.
He blasted “policy announcements without tangible impact,” calling most government programmes political gimmicks rather than real support 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 the government has failed to invest in mechanisation or partner with the private sector to make modern tools accessible.
“You cannot talk about food security when farmers lack equipment, extension officers, storage facilities, and access to markets,” he said.
The opposition figure also warned that Abia’s key value chains; cassava, palm produce, rice, plantain, vegetables are stagnant, leaving youth with no opportunities to turn farming into viable businesses.
“Our youths are willing to work, but the opportunities are not there.
“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.”
Kalu called for an urgent agricultural revival plan: expert engagement, revived extension services, rural storage centres, cooperative support, and investment in modern farming technologies.
“Agriculture is not an option; it is a lifeline. Any government that treats it with levity is endangering the future of its people,” he warned.
Abia’s food security hangs in the balance, and according to Kalu, the clock is ticking.
