Cocoa Farmers Seek Imo Govt Support To Boost Production

A group aegis of Cocoa and Plantain Farmers Association, Imo State Chapter has sought partnership with state government with a view to increasing production of Cocoa with to generate higher revenue for the state to the status as cocoa producing States in the country.

The Farmers hinted this when they paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Agriculture to familiarize with the newly appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Sabina Onwuchi.

The Chairman of Cocoa and Plantain farmers association stated that the purpose of the visit was lolto familiarise with the Permanent Secretary and to acquaint her with the programmes and activities of the association which includes, putting IMO State back in the list of cocoa producing state in Nigeria and to reintegrate the state in global cocoa production map.

Amb Dike stated that the association has planned to restore cocoa culture in the state which will be implemented by targeting 1million people in the state to plant at least 10 improved cocoa trees.

He stated that in achieving this lofty ideas, there is need for collaboration in sensitization and awareness creation to enable total compliance.

He solicited for the support of the State government, and appeal for grants and incentives to enable the association to increase the production of cocoa in the state.

Says, through the effort of the association Imo State has been reintegrated in the list of cocoa producing states in Nigeria, he said this was one of the great achievements of the association during cocoa national conference at Akure held in 2020.He informed that soil of the state is very fertile for the production of cocoa.

He noted, that they used the opportunity to appeal to the state government to off take the cocoa seedling produced by the association which is located in 3 different locations in Mbaitoli LGA.

Amb. Dike said that the association has designed strategies of establishing cocoa culture in IMO State which is as follow:
1.Cocoa Farming as Investment Option For Civil Servants and Retirees.
2. One Community One Cocoa Farm Project
3.Massive Intercropping Of Cocoa and Palm
4.One Youth One Cocoa Farm Project

Revealed, that when these millions of cocoa trees are planted, the State will be sufficient with cocoa production and it will attract investors to set up chocolate factories and cocoa value chain business will spring up in the state resulting in massive job creation and employment opportunities.

In her response, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Imo State Mrs Sabina Onwuchi expressed her appreciation for the visit, stressing that it happened at the right time when the state government has come out with economic planning policy and industrial development of every community in the state.

She said, agriculture is the bedrock of every economic development and it is doutbtfull to attain a meaningful level of development without the agricultural sector.

Adding, that before now the export of agricultural products like cocoa, oil palm, rubber, timber and groundnut have helped Nigeria in taking gigantic strides towards economic growth.

Maintained, there is no doubt about the gains of cocoa farming in developing economy, saying that the gains of cocoa farming cannot be over emphasized as cocoa presents one of the best business opportunity in the agribusiness.

The Permanent Secretary, further expressed willingness to collaborate with CPFAN to work together in achieving the dreams and initiatives of the association.

Promised to encouraged the members, and that she will carry the association along to benefit from government programmes, urged members of the association never to relent in their efforts, assured that she will maintain open door policy and advised the members to be coming around to share information on how to boost cocoa farming in the state, requested for the data of cocoa farmers in the state.

Also she demanded for the submission of list of processing industries in the state both those that is operational or morribund ones, stressing that the state government is partnering with United Nations Development Organization ( UNIDO) on industrial development and investments in IMO State.



Mrs Sabina noted, that when government receive the data of farmers it will help in economic planning and providing support to farmers.

Also speaking, Chief Dona Agukwe pointed out that Civil Servant while in active service should invest in cocoa farming because it’s a lifetime investment that generate revenue for the owner for 100 years, so that when the civil servant retire they will have a continuous source of income.

Lending his voice, Mr. Ugochukwu Ibe added that cocoa and plantain farming is a good concept, stressing that’ you can plant plantain, cocoa yam, pepper, cucumber and other crops and vegetables that can be harvested within a short people so that you don’t need to wait for 3 or more years when the cocoa will mature for harvest before you start reaping from the farm he said