RETURNING AGRICULTURE TO IT’S PLACE OF EMINENCE IN ABIA STATE.

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Until the discovery of crude oil, the Nigeria Agro-Base economy had a great boom. There was sufficient food, not only enough for local consumption but for export purposes. Along tribal lines, at least a particular specie of crop(s) were a symbol of the locals. There was large production of groundnut that culminated in the popular groundnut pyramid in the North; Palm oil produce in the East and Cocoa produce in the West.
However, with the cheering news of the discovery of the black gold at Oloibiri in River State, the government shifted interest to the crude products exploration while the Agric sector gradually became moribund.
At some point, the crude accounted for over 90% of the Nation’s GDP. In other hand, the oil in the well at Oloibiri dried up with time, after many years of exploitation on the sites. This however, is a hint to the public that the black gold may not last forever. It is also on record that earthquake locations in most countries were sites of either excavations or oil exploitation.
But a pertinent question have remained; What would be Nigeria’s prospect without crude oil?
Last year, the price of oil in the international market went down to its lowest ebb to about $30 per barrel affecting the projection of the governments. Hence, the clarion call for diversification of the economy. Today, the nation’s drive in this regard has yielded much benefits with interest in Agriculture, manufacturing etc receiving the desired attention.
In Abia State, government has done noble in the projection of the local content production, promotion and support of SMEs, and most importantly, looked into where it has a comparative advantage in the Agric industry.
The ecology of Abia State supports the production of the oil palm, cashew, rice etc. One of the giant moves experienced in Abia State, is the discovery of the palm estate that was planted by the premier of the Eastern Region, Michael Iheonukwuru Okpara. The Abia State ministry of Agriculture under the supervision of Barr. Uzor Azubike has nursery of over two million improve Tenera specie of oil palm seedling aimed at using them to replace the old groves with a target of planting seven million of the seedling before the year 2019.
In another means towards bringing the Agricultural projections of the State to the concerned citizens, the ministry of agriculture in collaboration with the Department for International Development, DFID organized a One Day presentation on the Abia State Community Based Oil Palm Project, ABSCOPP, held at Michael Okpara Auditorium Umuahia, on Tuesday the 8th day of January, 2017.
Speaking at the occasion, the commissioner expressed optimism that Abia will soon become the largest oil palm producing territory in Africa, as the ministry is not resting on its oars in the pursuit of oil palm revolution in the State.
The commissioner stressed the need for state governments to create gainful employment through Agriculture for the youths to generate extra revenue to meet its obligations in the face of prevailing economic recession in the country. He urged the communities where the plantations are to be sited to key into the project adding that it is tailored towards making individuals become owners of the lands.
In attendance at the presentation were; the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Eme Okoro, His Excellence, Rt. Hon. Eric Achor Nwakanma , Commissioner for Women affairs, Lady Chinedu Brown, Commissioner for Poverty Reduction, Barr Grant Mgbeke, special adviser to the governor on Agriculture, Chief Israel Amanze, Chairman State council of Ndi-Eze. Others are Prof Ed Nwobodo of the DFID, Mrs Beatrice Ndibe, African Heritage Institutions, Dele Thomas of DFID consultant, Prof Chris Emerole, Dean Faculty of Agriculture ABSU, President Abia State oil Palm growers association, Chief Onyinye Alozie among other dignitaries.