Abia Candidate Plants Campaign Promise in Agriculture and Youth Jobs
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In Abia State, Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate Dr. Kelechi Anosike has pledged to make youth development and agriculture central to his administration if elected. It is a familiar campaign furrow in Nigeria and across much of Africa: young people need jobs, agriculture needs energy, and leaders see a chance to connect the two.
The idea has strong roots. Agriculture can create work far beyond the field — in input supply, mechanization, irrigation services, aggregation, processing, transport, cold storage, marketing, and digital advisory tools. If done seriously, an agriculture plan can become a rural enterprise plan, not just a slogan with a smiling photo.
But farmers have heard plenty of big promises before. The difference between a sturdy agricultural policy and a paper scarecrow is implementation. Young people need access to land, affordable credit, practical training, extension support, reliable roads, storage, power, and buyers who pay on time. Without those pieces, telling youth to go into farming can feel less like opportunity and more like handing them a hoe and wishing them luck.
Abia’s agricultural potential will depend on whether policy connects production to markets. Growing more is only half the job. Reducing post-harvest losses, supporting local processing, improving quality standards, and linking farmers to stable demand are what turn harvests into income.
For farmers and agribusinesses, the election-season advice is simple: listen for details. Ask candidates how programs will be funded, who qualifies, how success will be measured, and whether existing farmers will be included alongside new entrants. A good agriculture plan should have more than green language — it should have roots, rainfall, and a route to market.
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The Punch - Read original articleMore from today's edition
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