The Enugu State Government has moved forward with its vision to transform the state into a net exporter of cocoa and its value-added products.
As part of this initiative, the state has established a 20-hectare pilot cocoa plantation located in the Nkanu East Local Government Area (LGA), with the aim of increasing the state’s GDP from $4 billion to $30 billion.
The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Mr. Patrick Nwabueze Ubru disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Enugu on Tuesday.
He explained that the pilot plantation is part of a partnership with WhiteRabbit Agro Limited, a private investor collaborating with the state to realize Governor Peter Mbah’s vision for cocoa production.
According to him, the state has plans to expand this initiative to surrounding local government areas that share similar soil types and topography. These include Nkanu West, Isi-Uzo, Oji-River, Aninri, and Agwu. Each of these areas will have pilot cocoa plantations spanning 100 hectares.
Mr. Ubru further emphasized the urgency of the project, stating that the government is working diligently to encourage farmers to embrace cocoa farming and cultivate larger cocoa plantations across the state.
Regarding the progress of the project, Ubru highlighted that WhiteRabbit Agro Limited is already developing 100,000 high-yielding, early-producing cocoa seedlings obtained from the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in Ibadan.
The cocoa nursery for the initiative is located in the Amaechi Idodo community in Nkanu East, ensuring that the project stays rooted in the local community.
Ubru also pointed out the economic potential of the cocoa initiative, revealing that one ton of cocoa is currently worth about $10,500 on the international market, which translates to roughly N16.3 million in local currency.
With such market value, he expressed confidence in the growth potential of the state’s agricultural sector.
He further emphasized that Governor Peter Mbah had given a clear mandate for the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation to focus on cocoa farming, and they are fully committed to achieving this goal.
Additionally, Ubru mentioned that he personally engages in the cultivation of cocoa and palm nurseries on his farm, with plans to scale up to larger cocoa and palm plantations.
This, he said, is an opportunity for the state’s residents to engage in agriculture, generate income, and contribute to the state’s economic development.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation is also open to collaboration with various stakeholders, including individuals, corporate organizations, cooperatives, multinationals, and other government bodies.
Ubru emphasized that the ministry is ready to provide guidance, agricultural extension services, and high-quality seedlings of cocoa, palm, cashew, and other crops to ensure that farmers succeed and contribute to the state’s economic prosperity.
Speaking on the ongoing work at the cargo section of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, he noted that once completed, this development will enable the state to export fresh, organic farm produce to international markets.
