Imo state has been included as a cocoa producing zone by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
This was revealed by the state commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs Adaora Ijezie, when a delegation of Imo State Chapter of Cocoa Growers Association led by Mr. Emma Nwapa paid her a courtesy visit at the State Secretariat, Owerri.
According to the Commissioner, the inclusion would guarantee the state the Federal Government cocoa buffer funds and other incentives due to farmers in the state.
She expressed state government commitment to delivering improved seedlings and provision of farming implements to the farmers and urged them to take advantage of these incentives in raising cocoa yield in the state.
Mrs Ijezie promised to inspect the cocoa farms in the state to ascertain their conditions and areas that needs urgent attention.
She assured her guests that government would continue to help the farmers in their business in line with the state’s Rescue Mission agenda of diversifying its source of income through agriculture and asked the farmers to support the initiatives.
Mr Nwapa told the commissioner that the cocoa farmers have formed a co-operative society in order to pull resources to acquire help from government and non-government support groups.
He enumerated the challenges being faced by cocoa farmers which includes, among others : distant markets as well as lack of funds and government support on the provision of improved seedlings and advanced agricultural implements.
