Governor Alex Otti’s government says it will resuscitate the state-owned cocoa processing industry to boost the commodity’s production and enhance the state’s economic fortunes.

Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu announced this on Tuesday during a meeting with the State Cocoa Transformation Committee members in Umuahia.

He said Nigeria was the largest exporter of cocoa after Cote D’Ivoire. Hence the Abia government was poised to explore the entire value chain in producing and processing the commodity.

The deputy governor added that the government would provide funding and training for cocoa farmers to adopt improved ways of farming to boost the production of the produce.

“We are determined to make Abia State one of the largest producers of cocoa in Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Emetu said the meeting was to acquaint the farmers with the government’s policy thrust on cocoa production and remind them of the imperatives of cocoa production.

The deputy governor expressed displeasure over leasing Agbozu Cocoa Estate, a government-owned property, in Uzuakoli, Bende LGA.

He directed the permanent secretary of the ministry of agriculture, Okey Ihedioha, to furnish him with the lease agreement for further necessary action.

Mr Ihedioha said that with encouragement and adequate government support, Abia would record improved cocoa production.

John Kalu, the state chairman of the Cocoa Farmers Association, urged the government to subsidise the rates of inputs and distribute improved cocoa seedlings to farmers for mass production and bumper harvest.

The representative of the Cocoa Institute Of Nigeria, Prince Olaniyi, expressed disappointment that the only government-owned cocoa plantation had been leased out.

(NAN)