Akwa Ibom Distributes 500,00 Cocoa Seedlings To Farmers For Boost Planting Season

Akwa Ibom State Government has distributed 500,000 cocoa seedlings and other inputs to farmers for this year’s planting season in Odoro Ikpe, Ini Local Government Area of the State.

The exercise is in line with the determination of the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to take advantage of the planting season to ensure food security and sufficiency.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Women Affairs, Dr. Glory Edet, did the presentation on Tuesday.

Akwa Ibom State has turned 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.

Recall that Governor Udom Emmanuel, who lamented agriculture had been neglected in the country, said it would be difficult to boast of development if the country was unable to feed itself.

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.