As part of efforts towards massive food production in Enugu, the state government is making arrangements to establish a fertiliser plant that will aid farmers in the state to maximise agricultural products.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Mathew Idu dropped this hint while briefing news men on the various initiatives the state government is putting in place to ensure that there is food sufficiency in the state.
He said the state is borrowing the idea from the sister state of Ebonyi, where he monitored the operations of a similar plant mounted for the state by a foreign firm.
Idu said the state government intends to acquire and set up agricultural farm lands across the 17 local government areas in the state where interested farmers can plant and harvest their crops within a specific planting season.
He added that the state government has indicated interest in mass producing of farm products this season,having discovered that there are arable soils in which cotton can grow effectively in the state.
He said that under the IFAD (International Fund For Agricultural Development) project,Five local governments in the state will embark on massive cultivation of Cassava and Rice. He mentioned Udenu and Isi Uzo local government areas as where the mass cassava planting project will be stationed, while Aninri,Nkanu East and Enugu East local government areas will be strong bases of rice production this season under IFAD projects.
The Enugu state commissioner for Agriculture disclosed that the state government in its efforts to increase palm Oil production in the state has introduced a new type of palm seedlings known as ‘Terena palm seedlings’ which has the capacity to mature under three years to grow palm fruits from which red oil is extracted.
