From Mfon Ekefre, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State government is collaborating with the John Kuffor Foundation of Ghana to enhance cocoa production as well as make cocoa farming in the state a priority.
In view of the above, government has reaffirmed its commitment to making cocoa farmers play a key role in the economic sector of the country.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Matthew Nathan Ekaette, disclosed this while exchanging views with the paramount ruler of Ini local government area, Ntong Effiong Udo Akpan in his palace during a working visit to the area.
Akpan, who was in the area for the zoning and mapping of cocoa farms, hinted that government has discovered ‘gold’ in Ini Local Government and was committed to proactively changing the investment that agricultural production does not only raise to a point where Akwa Ibom would be placed on the global production map.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by Dr. Abraham Kay and four technical experts from the foundation posited that a farmer should be one of the best individuals in his community, be able to send his children to the best schools and contribute meaningfully to the society with his resources as a farmer .
He assured cocoa farmers of support from the state government.
The commissioner said this would form part of the collaboration with the experts from Ghana, adding that plans have been made to increase production of cocoa from the present 300-600kg hectares between 2016 and 2017, from 600k to 960kg hectares between 2017 and 2018, from 900kg hectares to 1000kg hectares between 2018 and 2019 and from 1,000kg hectares to 1,500kg hectares between 2019 and 2026.
He maintained that the ongoing cocoa revolution in the state promised to be a major source of revenue to the state considering the consistent increase in the price in the international market from $1500 per metric ton in 2015.
Declaring open the zoning/mapping exercise, he observed that the potential of cocoa farmers in the state were far more than what they have at Ghana.
During the pruning, farmers who were trained on maintenance operations using farmers Field School (FFS) model expressed gratitude to the state government for initiating the training programme for farmers in the 20 cocoa producing communities.
The pruning covered 13 local government areas, namely Ini, Ikono, Uruan, Essien Udim, Abak, Ukanafun, Etim Ekpo, Mkpat Enin, Ibiono Ibom, Uyo, Ikot Expene, Etinan and Obot Akara.
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