The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi  Adesina, has expressed dismay at the decay of the Imo Modern Poultry in Avutu, Obowo Local Government Area of the state and has promised to ensure the farm enterprise is resuscitated.

He disclosed this during a working visit to Imo State recently when he was conducted through a 20 square kilometre poultry estate where billions of naira worth of facilities are abandoned and overgrown with bush.

The minister has also promised to help boost the Imo Oil Palm Industry, known before as Adapalm.

Dr. Adesina, while visiting the oil palm plantation at Egbema, promised to help expand the estate with ‘new plantings of up to 3,000 hectares,’ in addition to the existing 4,000 hectares of farmland, where he described the palm trees as ‘old.’ “We will help the state with tenera seedlings for 3,000 hectares,” he promised.

The minister praised the efforts of the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Adaora Ijezie, who, he said, persuaded him to embark on a visit to see what is being done on agriculture in Imo State. Dr. Adesina promised to revive and upgrade the five cassava SME projects in the state as well as establish there one of the new 18 large scale High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) plants.

The one for the state is expected to process 72,000 metric tons and might start operation in the next 12 to 18 months. According to him, 60,000 hectares of land is anticipated for clearing and 3.6 million bundles of cassava stem planting materials would be made available.

“Imo State is the third largest cassava producing state in Nigeria,” the Minister pointed out, underscoring the importance of the state, which he described as ‘agrarian.’ He said that 12,000 farmers of cassava will be targeted while 60,000 hectares of land will be planted with improved varieties.

He added that rice milling quality is essential and that audit has already been done and upgrade of facilities will be carried out in April.