Agriculture, Central To Our Drive To Make Imo Viable

Governor Hope Uzodimma has said that agriculture is key to his administration’s drive to make Imo a viable State.

He also added that his administration will encourage partnership in agriculture to stimulate industrial revolution and create opportunities for Imo indigenes to be gainfully employed and enjoy food security.

Governor Uzodimma spoke on Tuesday in his office when he received the TAK Group, a mechanized agriculture-based company in Nigeria whose team paid him a courtesy call to solicit partnership with the government on two main industrial agricultural projects – Adapalm and Imo Poultry at Avutu.

The Governor said: “Agriculture is central to our drive to make Imo a viable State. We know you have done well in some States in Nigeria and other parts of the world. And your request is simple: to partner with us in the area of agriculture.

“The Commissioners for Agriculture and Livestock Development will interface with you on the two areas you are seeking partnership – Avutu Poultry and Adapalm – on technical inspection that will guide us in our further discussion.”

Governor Uzodimma reminded the eight-man team led by Mr. Thomas Etuh, the Chairman, that Imo State is blessed with enormous gas deposit at Oguta and that the establishment of a petro chemical plant and other gas–related businesses will not be difficult to achieve in a properly conceived partnership.

He said hundreds of industries have already shown interest in Imo State as a result of the huge gas deposit, noting that his administration is poised to pursue industrial revolution by taking advantage of the large gas deposit in the state.

Earlier, the TAK Group Chairman, Mr. Etuh thanked the governor for granting his team audience and noted that “Imo is blessed with untapped resources”.

He reiterated their interest in Adapalm and Avutu Poultry Farm and said if the Public Private Partnership (PPP) is properly  conceived and becomes operational, the two government owned establishments will compete with what is obtainable in other civilized parts of the world.

He sought the governor’s nod to allow his team work with the government’s to enable them do a proper study on the projects before submitting their report on the PPP.

Mr. Etuh lauded the governor on his foresight and knack for development and maintained that Imo will in no time reap the benefit of Governor Uzodimma’s leadership qualities.

The Governor was joined to receive the team by some top government officials including the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Chuck Chuckemeka and the Commissioner for Agriculture Mr. Lambert Osakwe.