NEPC distributes cocoa seedlings to farmers in Imo
From Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri
Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has distributed 1,025 seedlings to 35 cocoa farmers in Imo State to boost production in the state as well as for export.
Handing over the seedlings to cocoa farmers in Owerri, the State Capital, the Executive Director of the NEPC, Dr Ezra Yakusak, said exercise was part of Federal Government’s intervention to encourage farmers with incentives that would help them grow various agricultural products for internal food security and export.
The Executive Director who was represented by NEPC’s Imo Coordinator, Mr Anthony Ajuruchi, disclosed that the intervention was to enlist Imo on the map of cocoa exporters in Nigeria and advised the farmers to justify government’s efforts by replanting the seedlings and nurturing them for increased production and return on investment.
According to him, the seedlings were procured from a reliable source, the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN, to ensure that the best is given to farmers with the hope that they will justify the resources expended in this regard.
His words, “Cocoa is a leading export product because the market is large and the players are large too, therefore we know that having invested in our farmers, in the next three to four years, the fruits of this labour will be plucked along the value chain.“
Also speaking, CRIN’s Head of Station, Ibeku substation, Umuahia, Mr Olayinka Olaniyi, said that the seedlings, when matured for export , would “grow Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, impact livelihood of farmers, generate employment and feed Nigerians.”
Also contributing, the Chairman, Imo chapter of the Cocoa and Plantain Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr Innocent Dike, applauded the Federal Government for remembering farmers and appealled for similar interventions in the provision of arable farmland and public enlightenment for increased patronage.
In his speech, Chief Economic Adviser to the Imo government, Prof. Kenneth Amaechi, represented by Mrs Jovita Agu, assured of the state government’s support through additional incentives and urged the benefitting farmers to redouble effort in expanding cocoa production in the state.
Also, the Special Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodimma on Trade, Mr Edward Emeribe, charged the farmers to take advantage of the state’s industrial policy recently launched by the governor for processing and export of cocoa.
Responding on behalf of the cocoa farmers, Mr Emmanuel Nwapa of the Oguta LGA of Imo, advocated increasedd investments in cocoa farming, saying, it is both economically lucrative and good as a health product.
