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Akwa Ibom State is turning to cocoa farming as a means of securing high returns on investment in agriculture, ensure sustainable development and value addition in the wake of dwindling revenue from crude oil.
It is cultivating several hectares in Ini Local Government Area for cocoa farming and bringing in high yielding seedlings, hoping to produce more than 100,000 tons annually when it starts production.
Already, investors have indicated interest to construct access road to the area as well as build a cocoa processing plant that will add value to cocoa production in the state.
Governor Udom Emmanuel, who said agriculture had been neglected in the country, said it would be difficult to boast of development if the country was unable to feed itself.
“We are bringing the best cocoa seedlings to the state and we want our farmers to see the difference it would make in cocoa production; this is the time we need to reappraise ourselves in agriculture,’’ he said.
Akwa Ibom is the third largest state in cocoa production after Cross River and Ondo, but farming has been done at subsistence level in the last few years without any concerted effort aimed at large scale cocoa cultivation.
With the high price cocoa is currently enjoying on the international market, analysts say the state will likely pick up high returns on its investment on cocoa farming.
In addition, the state government is also cultivating large hectares of coconut in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area for the first ever coconut refinery in the state.
The by-products of coconut are always in high demand by the manufacturers of fast moving consumer goods as well as by the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
According to the governor, despite the large hectares of land already cultivated, more land is still needed for coconut plantation due to the high demands for its products.
Meanwhile, the governor has called on every Akwa Ibom citizen to invest in the Akwa Ibom project and make the state a better place for generation unborn.
In a state-wide broadcast to mark the 29 anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State and the first anniversary of the state re-orientation programme called Dakkada Philosophy, he said his administration would strengthen those ideals and ensure that the ladder of growth was steady and firm for others to climb, as his administration had embarked on several projects and there were more in the pipeline.
“Education remains free and compulsory at the basic level and in spite of the lies a section of the media has been peddling, there are no plans to introduce school fees.”
“What this Government is committed to doing is to ensure that our students receive the best education that they possibly can get and at the same time their parents have choices of either sending them to boarding school or utilize other means to educate their children which may be less expensive”
“The state remains one of the States where citizens enjoy regular supply of electricity and has been singled out for the huge investment in the power sector and the corresponding regularity of electricity supply.”
Speaking further, the governor noted, “In spite of the economic challenges we have through creative application of resources ensured that our people receive their salaries on time. We have paid workers their 2016 annual leave allowances.
“We have ensured that our students sit for and receive their WAEC result by making a payment of almost N600 million to WAEC and as I speak all the result of Akwa Ibom students have been released.
“With the investments we have made in agriculture and the FADAMA Projects, we are hopeful that in the next few months, prices of food in Akwa Ibom State would be one of the most affordable in the nation.
“Work had begun at the electric metering manufacturing plant in ONNA and over 150 solid jobs would be created alongside other lower level jobs with 32 on transfer for technology training in China and 10 will be sent to Italy for specialised training . We have also commenced revolutionary Agricultural initiatives in coconut plantation and refinery. Our intention is to ensure we feed our populace from within in the next few years. ”
He said his administration has embarked on the construction of over 250 kilometres of roads, 17 bridges and other infrastructural amenities across the State and has commissioned the emergency intervention flood control and completion of outfalls and urban roads in Oron, constructed and commissioned the Information Drive and 6 kilometre road in Atan Offot, constructing of 3.5 Ikot Udom road with 15 meter span bridge in Ibiono Ibom local government area and that work is ongoing in the dualisation of 19.7 Uyo-Etinan Road.
