The Deputy Governor of Abia State Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, FNSE has reassured the commitment of Dr. Alex Otti’s led administration to place high premium on revitalization of the Agricultural Sector in the State.
He made this known during the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria 2nd Annual Cocoa Festival held at Abuja Continental Hotel, FCT.
The Nigeria Cocoa Annual Festival is an event that celebrates the continuous efforts and dedication of Nigerian farmers in the growth of Cocoa and it’s Agricultural value chain. The 2-day event was well attended by stakeholders in Cocoa Farming, Nigerian Cocoa Agro-businesses, Farmers, researchers and quality control specialists.
The Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, expressed gratitude to the facilitators of the event for creating such symposium: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), The Lutheran World Relief and delegates of Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria.
He emphasized the need for the opportunities in Cocoa Farming to be adequately harnessed for optimal utilization of the major products of Cocoa, which are: Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Powder, Pectin, Potash and Animal feed.
In his speech, he said: “Abia State is endowed with good tropical climate and vast arable land that favours massive growth of cocoa to meet the high international and local demands and its derivatives along the value chain, Cocoa is currently grown in large quantities in Five Local Government Areas of the State. In our Administration’s resolve to re-engineer and diversify the economic base of the State, alleviate poverty, create employment and develop new Cocoa Plantations, we sponsored research and the findings show that Cocoa can be abundantly produced in sixteen (16) Local Government Areas of our State”.
Engr. Emetu in his closing remark assured the Stakeholders that the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex C. Otti OFR, acknowledges the importance of Cocoa and maintained that the State Government is poised to give every needed support to the growth of Cocoa Farming in Abia State and Nigeria in general.
