By Samuel
The Akwa Ibom State Government has begun fast-tracking the processes for its novel coconut refinery, as it doled out coconut seedlings to organisations and educational institutions in the state.
The government said that the move was in furtherance of its course to upheave the production of coconut’s end products across the state.
Commissioner for agriculture, Glory Edet, disclosed this to newsmen in Uyo, recently.
Akwa Ibom had previously commenced the construction of the coconut oil refinery in 2017. However, the completion was delayed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, this year.
The refinery is projected to have a capacity of processing about one million coconuts a day, but the government says it would kick-start with a capacity of 300,000 coconuts daily.
In September, AgroNigeria had also reported the government’s commitment to revitalising the coconut value chain.
Edet noted that the exercise was aimed at encouraging organisations and stakeholders to contribute their quota to the completion of the refinery.
She said the government was committed to increasing the coconut production level in the state, adding that the government would lend its support to all relevant stakeholders.
“The ministry of agriculture is poised to encourage individuals, organisations, institutions and corporate bodies to contribute to the collaborative effort of massive production of coconuts and its value chains towards production lines of the coconut oil factory in the state,” the commissioner said.
Speaking further, Edet also explained that the distribution of the seedlings to schools would be in phases, to ensure even distribution.
According to her, adequate supervision will be made by the government to ensure the cultivation of coconuts and other farm inputs by schools which will attract rewards to outstanding schools.
She, therefore, appealed to principals and teachers to help imbibe agric-consciousness in the students, as a way of achieving food security in the state.
By Samuel
Akwa Ibom State Government has distributed 500,000 cocoa seedlings and other farm inputs to farmers in the state as part of efforts to rejig the cocoa subsector.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Women Affairs, Dr Glory Edet, presented the seedlings to farmers at Odoro Ikpe in Ini Local Government Area of the state.
Edet, while speaking at the nursery farm, commended the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, for his commitment towards achieving food security in the state.
According to her, the governor’s efforts and unflinching support have made the state the largest cocoa-producing state in Nigeria.
She added, “Beyond ensuring abundance in cocoa production in the state, Akwa Ibom now has the best variety of cocoa in the country.
“The governor has ensured that agrochemicals are also distributed to the farmers to ward off pests, while fertilisers and sprayers have also been provided to the cocoa farmers to increase their yields.”
In their reaction, beneficiaries of the seedlings expressed gratitude to the state governor for his timely intervention and support for the cocoa industry.
Also, the state chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Otoinwang Basset Inyang, has extended his appreciation to the governor for his unwavering support to farmers.
Inyang noted that Udom’s administration spearheaded the best turnaround in the growth of agriculture in the state.
President of Ekemini Co-operative Cassava Farm in Odoro Ikpe, Obonganwan Idara Ekpe, also thanked the state governor for his constant efforts at boosting cassava cultivation in the state.