By Emmanuel Chigbata
The Anambra State Government is developing a 10 year agricultural strategy aimed at repositioning the sector, strengthening food production and improving the impact of government interventions across the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Ben Odoemena, disclosed this while appearing before the Public Accounts Committee of the Anambra State House of Assembly during its review of the state’s 2025 audited accounts.
Odoemena acknowledged that the agricultural sector faced some challenges in 2025, noting that the experience had informed the ministry’s decision to develop a comprehensive and result oriented strategy for the sector.
According to the commissioner, the strategy will serve as a long term blueprint for agricultural development in Anambra State and will identify flagship programmes to be implemented by the government over the next decade.
He said the document, which is currently being developed, would be presented to Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and his team within the next three months.
Odoemena also responded to concerns raised over the quality and performance of seedlings distributed to farmers under previous government interventions.
He acknowledged that some beneficiaries had expressed dissatisfaction with the seedlings, but noted that others had reported positive results, including seedlings that had performed well and started producing fruits.
The commissioner said the ministry would adopt a more community based approach in the distribution of agricultural inputs and seedlings going forward.
He explained that the new approach would make it easier for members of the State House of Assembly, community leaders and other stakeholders to monitor government interventions and assess their actual impact at the grassroots.
Odoemena further acknowledged concerns over possible compromises in the implementation of some previous agricultural programmes, assuring the committee that the ministry had identified the challenges and would introduce stronger monitoring mechanisms under the new strategy.
He said the objective was to ensure that government investments in agriculture reached genuine beneficiaries and produced measurable results in communities.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee commended the commissioner for appearing before the committee and providing explanations on the ministry’s programmes and activities.
He said the review of the state’s audited accounts was not only about scrutinising government expenditure but also about strengthening accountability, transparency and effective implementation of public programmes.
The proposed 10 year agricultural strategy is expected to provide Anambra with a clearer direction for developing its agricultural sector, improving food security and ensuring that public investments in agriculture deliver sustainable benefits to farmers and communities.
