Akwa Ibom Govt Empowers 450 Youths in Cocoa Management

Mr. Udom Emmanuel

Akwa Ibom State Government has begun an empowerment scheme for 450 youths in cocoa maintenance, cultivation and sales to generate more revenue.


This was made known during the flag of the scheme by the Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel in Ekpemiong Itak in Ikono and Ini Local Government Areas of the State. The training will cover pruning, underbrushng, fumigation and shade management of cocoa production.

Emmanuel said that cocoa yields more revenue in the international market than crude oil and that the present slump in the oil market is an indication for the country to diversify its investments into Agriculture to earn more revenue.

According to him, Akwa Ibom has been found to have a fertile soil for the cultivation of cocoa after a perfect feasibility study. Technical experts from Ghana have been charged with the responsibility to train the farmers on new ways of cultivating  the crop and charged cocoa farmers to form themselves into Cooperatives to access funds and other incentives to boost their investment.

The Chairman State Cocoa Development Committee and Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo commended the Governor for the foresight to diversify the economy through cocoa cultivation and enhanced Agricultural development.

He expressed the hope that with the new drive in cocoa cultivation Akwa Ibom would rise from its relegate 10th position to the fore previously occupied in the production of cocoa with the additional inputs in both capacity and technique of cultivation.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Mathew Nathan Ekaette called on cocoa farmers to register with the ministry for monitoring and other incentives to boost the cultivation of the crop and to derive value on the investment. .

The Technical Team Leader, Dr. Abraham Odum of the John Kofo foundation said that the demand for cocoa in the international market is on the increase and that the State has the best specie of cocoa with a good flavour suitable for the beverage production and assured that with the training, cocoa farmers would swim in wealth and the Gross Domestic product of the State and Country wil increase.

At Ini Local Government Area, the Governor commended the people for the additional hectares of land set aside for the cultivation of the crop and announced the flag off of the construction of roads in the area to enable the farmers access their farmland.

The House of Assembly member for the area Mr Emmanuel Ekpenyong called for the demarcation of the boundaries to address the incessant skirmishes with the neighbouring States.

The Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Dr. Glory Edet acknowledged that Ini has the best land for the cultivation of Cocoa and assured that the people who are predominantly farmers would make the best use of the opportunity offered them  to improve on the cultivation for greater yield.