Abia State government has frowned at the leasing out of Agbozu Cocoa Plantation, Uzuakoli, to a private company by the immediate past administration, querying the rationale behind the action.
The deputy governor, Ikechukwu Emetu stated this at a meeting with the state committee on cocoa transformation and stakeholders in cocoa agric-business at Government House, Umuahia, the state capital.
He said the essence of the meeting was to discuss with the committee and the stakeholders on how to improve on cocoa farming in the state as a major component of the government’s agenda for agriculture.
He called on the Ministry of Agriculture to furnish him with details of the lease agreement and to organise a forum for interaction between him and cocoa farmers in the state.
“I would like to interface with them to know their challenges and how the government can be of assistance to them. This will go a long way to add value to their produce and improve our economy,” he said.
The permanent secretary of the ministry, Okey Ihedioha, in his address, said the staff are ready to provide the farmers the necessary technical knowledge and support to maximize their yields.
In their separate remarks, a representative of Cocoa Institute of Nigeria, Olaniyi Olayinka, and a director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Alloysius Mba expressed sadness over the lease.
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