The Anambra State Government has announced a strategic partnership with a Chinese consortium of agricultural firms aimed at boosting rice production and enhancing farmers’ capacity across the state.
The government also disclosed that no fewer than 2.2 million oil palm and coconut seedlings have been distributed to about 180,000 households as part of its agricultural empowerment drive.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Forster Ihejiofor, made this known while speaking with journalists at the Anambra State House of Assembly Complex in Awka, shortly after the ministry’s 2026 budget defence.
According to Ihejiofor, the partnership with the Chinese consortium is targeted at scaling up rice production in Ayamelum Local Government Area, one of the state’s major rice-producing zones.
He explained that the state government is mainstreaming a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to enhance productivity in rice cultivation within advantaged farming communities.
“The partnership deal being struck with the Chinese consortium will enable our farmers to adopt modern farming techniques that significantly improve crop yield,” he said.
The commissioner noted that while rice farmers in Anambra currently produce between three and four tonnes per hectare, Chinese farmers have been able to achieve nine to 10 tonnes per hectare, a gap the partnership seeks to close.
He further revealed that the state government is investing in irrigation infrastructure to support year-round farming and mitigate the effects of climate change and irregular rainfall.
“We are working on irrigation infrastructure in multiple locations across the state to make it possible for farmers to produce food throughout the year. This will help combat the challenges posed by climate change,” Ihejiofor stated.
He added that the government is also introducing smart agricultural technologies to improve soil nourishment and moisture retention for crops.
On seedling distribution, Ihejiofor said the government has so far procured and distributed over 2.2 million oil palm and coconut seedlings to households across the state, with each household receiving an average of 10 seedlings.
He explained that the initiative has long-term economic benefits, noting that the seedlings would begin yielding within four to seven years and continue producing for over 60 years, potentially lifting beneficiary families out of poverty.
“In 2026, Governor Chukwuma Soludo has proposed to empower an additional 100,000 households with these economic seedlings.
This household-based model aligns with the state’s land tenure system, where most families own small plots of land,” he said.
The commissioner also disclosed that the governor has approved ₦500 million for irrigation projects at Ifite-Ogwari, adding that rice production on the axis is expected to commence within the next two months.
“With this intervention, we will be able to produce rice up to three times a year in that area,” he added.
Ihejiofor further recalled that in August 2025, Governor Soludo launched the ‘Farm to Feed’ programme to address rising food costs by empowering farmers and encouraging increased local food production across the state.
He said several local government areas have since embraced the programme and strengthened farmers’ capacity to boost agricultural output.
Meanwhile, the state government, through the Ministry of Information, had in April 2025 partnered with the Amansea Cattle Market to sensitise youths on the dangers of substance abuse as part of efforts to enforce the state’s anti-drug abuse policy.
The Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, urged young people to shun drug abuse, stressing that substance use undermines personal development and leads to wasted lives.
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