Gov Emmanuel Inspects AKEES Tomatoes Farm
...Assures On Establishment Of A Puree Factory
As the food sufficiency drive of Governor Udom Emmanuel- led administration in Akwa Ibom State gathers momentum, the state government has concluded arrangement to set up a puree factory for large scale processing of tomatoes, pepper and other vegetables cultivated in the state .
The state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, gave the indication, Saturday, October 17, 2020 during his tour of the Akwa Ibom Enterprise and Employment Scheme (AKEES) pilot farm for tomatoes cultivation located at the Ifiayong/Mbiakong communities, Uruan Local Government Area.
He expressed satisfaction at the quality of farm produce at the demonstration farm, saying that the stride recorded has encouraged him to invest more in agriculture which he said is fast becoming the main stay of the economy and urged youths to take interest in commercial farming for sustainable source of income, employment and wealth creation.
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“it’s amazing what I’m seeing here and I’m impressed. I’m sure a whole lot of youths are being employed here and when they harvest, these can give them a whole lot of money and that will be a source of capital for all other endeavours that they may want to venture into.
“…for AKEES to have developed this, I am encouraged and want to do more. I promised the agency that once they can do this in tomatoes and pepper that we are going to give them a processing factory to process it to puree”, he emphasized.
The Governor assured that the state government will not take revenue generated from the farm and explained that the gesture is to allow AKEES plough back the proceeds and continue to grow it until it attains the targeted quantum of harvest.
Speaking to newsmen at the end of the farm tour, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical Matters and Due Process, Elder Ufot Ebong, described Governor Emmanuel as a visionary leader, stating that the 7-hectare tomatoes farm was a pilot project for the implementation of the governor’s initiative of 100 hectare cultivation for tomato production to boost his administration’s food sufficiency drive.
“In line with a promise the governor made to Akwa Ibom people to cultivate a hundred hectares for tomatoes production and as part of his food sufficiency programme, AKEES was directed to do a pilot project to see how that could work. AKEES took it up from July and now the governor has visited and is impressed”, he stated.
He used the occasion to dismiss apprehensions about growing crops in large quantity, saying that with the studies and successes recorded in the pilot farm project the state has the capacity to grow 22 popular vegetables, including tomatoes, pepper, onion, cabbage, carrots and the likes, assuring on the capacity of AKEES to cultivate the targeted 100 hectares to make the state self sufficient in tomatoes and cultivation of other vegetables.
