…A story of quest to lead in palm oil production
In its determination and desire to be the largest producer of palm oil in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general, the Abia State government has embarked on the retrieving, reclaiming, rehabilitating and repositioning of various oil palm estates established by previous administrations but were abandoned due to lack of maintenance.
The resuscitated estates include Ohambele, in Ukwa East, Ulonna North and South; Ukwa Nkporo, Isu Aro and Ozuitem which have a total of 12,189 hectares, while 3,856 hectares had been planted with improved variety called Tenera and 8,133 hectares of arable land still laying fallow.
Uzor Azubuike, the Abia commissioner for Agriculture, said that effort was being made to bring in Private Investors on lease in order to turn around the fortunes of these Estates.
The Government of Okezie Ikpeazu in furtherance of its resolve to boast Oil palm sector of the state economy has engaged in community-based oil palm project in order to unbundle the agricultural value chains in oil palm.
According to the commissioner, the target of the project is the replacement of the wild grove oil palm trees with Tenera species across the state with effect from 2018 while the pilot scheme had already started with the planting of100 hectares of land at Ohambele.
As part of its commitment at ensuring that the community oil palm project becomes the flagship of economic growth in the state, Abia government, through the Ministry of Agriculture has equally established a 2-million oil palm (Tenera) seedling nursery, excluding the already existing 3000-5000 seedlings and the Nursery at Imenyi in Bende Local Government Area of the state.
The state government has also established giant Oil Processing Mill of 5-metric tons/hour processing at Mbawsi in Isiala Ngwa North Area of the state.
Azubuike said the policy thrust of the present administration is in the area of commercial Agriculture.
He said traditionally, the people of the state are farmers by occupation.
“But now, we are consciously thriving and developing our people into commercial farmers by which we will be making our people to see Agriculture and farming not just as part-time but as source of wealth, that doing Agriculture is for the purpose of making profit,” said Azubuike.
He noted that in traditional Agricultural practice, profit element was not in consideration, resulting in a situation where at the end of the year, more money would be spent in Agriculture, adding that the direction the state is going now is to make people see Agriculture as wealth-creator and employment-generator.
The commissioner for Agriculture said though there were many areas of Agriculture being practiced by various governments, corporate bodies and individuals alike, the state government had chosen areas where it has a comparative advantage.
Apart from oil palm, the state has vigorously engaged in Cocoa development.
As part of its efforts to enhance cocoa value chain, the state government is presently engaging in a baseline data by registering cocoa farmers in the state.
The state according to Azubuike had raised nursery of cocoa seedlings (F3 Amazon) and distributed to farmers at subsidized rates.
The state had also set up Cocoa Transformation Committee comprising farmers’ representatives as well as government officials with Ude Oko Chukwu, the deputy governor as the chairman.
In the area of Rubber development, the commissioner said the state government has a combined hectares of 2,784 at Abia Rubber plantations located at Ndi Oji and Amaeke Aba in Arochukwu Local Government Area.
He disclosed that government was sourcing for investors in a bid to reposition the estate.
The state in order to boost rice production has commenced registration of rice farmers in Abia North which incidentally is the rice basin of the state. The Ministry of Agriculture has equally taken steps to secure massive farm land for rice cultivation in Abam, Arochukwu Local Government of the state.
The Ministry in collaboration with FADAMA111 has established a rice processing Mill in Atani, Arochukwu, Local Government Area which has given impetus to the mass production of stone-free rice.
In cassava production which is the mainstay of the state, the commissioner said his Ministry had embarked on cassava stem multiplication with the establishment of a-10 hectare TME 419 and Pro- vitamin A cassava farm at Omumauzo, Ukwa LGA. According to him, the target was to raise and distribute about 5000 bundles of cassava cutting to farmers for multiplication.
Government’s determination to make sure every Abia family enjoys the protein rich meal at very affordable cost had received a boost with the establishment 7500 capacity modern poultry layer farm at the Headquarters of Ministry of Agriculture which is made up of 2500 layers for egg production and 5000 broilers.
The commissioner further hinted that in order boost Poultry business in the state, that government had established a Poultry Processing Plant at Umuosu in Isiala Ngwa LGA.
In the area of Fishery development, the ministry has resuscitated three concrete fish pond and stocked with 3500 fingerlings while plans are afoot to build a hatchery for fingerling multiplication and distribution to Abia fish farmers.
Azubuike hinted that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had since given approval to the Ministry of Agriculture machinery and equipment which the ministry had had since procured.
