A’Ibom Gov’t To Embark On 500-Hectare Commercial Farming In LGAs

Akwa Ibom State government has approved the establishment of a 500-hectare farmland in each of the 31 Local Government Areas of the state for commercial agricultural venture.

This, according to the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, was part of the resolutions reached at the State Executive Council meeting presided over by the State Governor , Mr Udom Emmanuel, Friday, October 30, 2020 at Government House, Uyo.

The Information Commissioner stated that the venture which seeks to achieve the food sufficiency drive of the present administration, was part of the state government initiative to build an entire ecosystem that can handle agricultural produce which will involve the cultivation of choice crops in commercially viable quantity, price optimization and an off-taker system.

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He added that the initiative was in addition to the ongoing 3000 Coconut stands per school campaign and explained that Governor Emmanuel’s disposition towards coconut production was an indication of his commitment to creating a value chain around the state owned coconut oil factory.

“Council also directed Local Government Chairmen to provide a minimum of 500 hectares of land for commercial agricultural purposes. These 500 hectares is to allow for commercial agricultural purposes wherein priority crops will be cultivated on the farmlands.

“It will be an ecosystem that can handle agricultural produce, with an off-taker system. That is why we now have, clearly, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Investment Directorate of AKIICORP working in sync to ensure that we can have price optimization for the crops produced”, Ememobong stated.

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Speaking further, the Information boss said that the Executive Council also gave directives for the second phase of the farmers’ enumeration exercise in the state to ensure inclusion of farmers who were not captured in the first phase of the enumeration.

“In line with this, Local Government Chairmen, traditional institutions, religious leaders have been urged to mobilize people to participate in the enumeration so as to ascertain the number of farmers to enhance agricultural and economic planning.

“Council also received a report on the enumeration of farmers and the creation of Akwa Ibom Farmers Information Management System by the Agriculture Investment Directorate of AKIICORP.

“…government was pleased with it but instructed that another round of the enumeration be undertaken to capture those who for one reason or the other may not have been captured during the first enumeration”.

Ememobong informed newsmen that the Council deliberated extensively on the report of the Technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency and urged the committee to work towards realising the state government vision of ensuring that at least 80 per cent of food consumed in the state is produced within the state.

On her part, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Glory Edet, said that her Ministry has briefed Principals and Agricultural Science teachers in Secondary Schools across the state and will soon embark on the distribution of coconut seedlings to the schools to facilitate the setting up of coconut farms in schools across the state.

“We want to go back to the era where school farming were made compulsory in schools .This is outside the 500 hectares to be cultivated in LGAs. In the next quarter we will make sure all schools are covered in the distribution of seedlngs so that it will be compulsory for all schools in Akwa Ibom to cultivate coconut.

“We will also be moving round to monitor the progress of work. With these, we will improve agriculture which will lead to food sufficiency and poverty reduction in the state”, Edet explained.

On the 500-hectare per LGA commercial farming initiative, Dr. Edet said that Council Areas will cultivate crops which they have comparative advantage, stressing that fish and poultry farming will be encouraged in riverine areas.