In another move to boost the cultivation of cash crops in the state, the Akwa Ibom State Government has distributed over 100,000 oil palm seedlings to farmers across the 31 Local Government Areas.
Few days ago, Governor Udom Emmanuel empowered Cocoa farmers across the state with over 700,000 cocoa seedlings, knapsack sprayers, agrochemicals and cash support.
The oil palm seedlings were distributed on Tuesday, at Government Nursery Farm, Itak Ikot Udo, in Ikot Ekpene LGA.
Governor Udom Emmanuel, whose message was delivered by His Commissioner For Agriculture Dr. Glory Edet said he was poised at ensuring abundance in improved oil palm trees which is a major foreign exchange earner in the country and indeed globally.
The Governor has emphasized at various fora his vision that 90 percent of food consumed in Akwa Ibom State must be cultivated within the state and that Akwa Ibomites must graduate from subsistent farming to large scale agro-business enterprises.
Farmers from different parts of the state commended the Governor for his sincerity in fulfilling his promises to support agro-entrepreneuship and pledged to make judicious use of the inputs.
