The Abia State Government has commenced the ‘Return to Farm Programme’ with a plan to plant 7.5 million oil palm trees in three years.
The state plans to re-direct organic farming with focus on large scale commercial quantity.
As stated by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Uzo Azubike, the idea is to plant crops that are acceptable globally.
“This is why the state is embarking on massive plantation of palm trees across all the local government areas.
“The communities will be co-owners, thereby creating wealth, reducing unemployment and encourage Abians to grow edible plants,” he stated.
Mr Azubike said that steps had been taken to restore school farm system in every public schools.
He further stated that the agricultural development programme would ensure that all the old trees planted in the 60s were replanted.
The Commissioner also told reporters that some of the Cashew plantations in the state had been leased out to private investors to make room for government to focus more on the crops that would bring in the estimated huge Internally Generated Revenue for the state.
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