C’ River communities commend govt. for establishing new cocoa estate

Some people of Osomba and Akim communities in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River have commended the State Government for establishing a new cocoa estate in the area.

They gave the commendation in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akamkpa on Sunday.

NAN reports that the raising of one million cocoa nurseries in the newly acquired 300,000 hectares of land for the estate has already commenced.

Mr Effiong Okon, a farmer, described the establishment of the new cocoa estate in the area as a huge blessing to the people.

“The cocoa estate is a blessing to our communities. We plant cocoa here in our backyards and it produces well but nobody had, before now, encouraged or empowered us to make it a big venture. Now that the state government has decided to assist, we appreciate it,” he said.

Okon said that he and other farmers were already planning to take to cocoa farming because with the additional incentives they would fare better in the sector.

Also, Mrs Grace Okon, a woman leader in the area, said the women were very grateful to the present administration in the state for the initiative.

“We are very happy, especially as the state government said it would build a model school and a hospital in the estate.

“We are happy because some of us, especially the young ones, have indicated interest in cocoa farming.

“It will be a real source of economic empowerment for the women in this area, ‘’ she said.

NAN recalls that the state government recently acquired 300,000 hectares of land from the communities for the establishment of the cocoa estate with one million cocoa nurseries already being raised. (NAN)