In an effort to create employment and improve the income level of youths, Akwa Ibom government has turned to large scale cultivation of vegetables including tomatoes, garden eggs and lettuces from farms located in various parts of the state.
Anchored by the Akwa Ibom Entrepreneurship and Employment Scheme (AKEES), a special purpose agency set up by the state government to support skills development among youths, the cultivation of vegetables has already recorded record yields with huge market potentials for tomatoes within and outside the state.
Conducting reporters around one of the farms in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Ufot Ebong who is the coordinator of the scheme said it has reawakened the consciousness of the people in entrepreneurship particularly farming adding that growing tomatoes has become a profitable venture.
Capitalising on the scarcity of tomatoes which hit the country last year, it has now been tuned into a multi million naira enterprise.
“Growing tomatoes alone can fetch millions of naira every month instead of going around begging money from political office holders,” Ebong said.
According to him, many crops and vegetables which could be grown in the state were being brought in from other states adding that over N6 billion was being spent by the people on the purchase of vegetables which according to him could be grown locally.
“It is a simple model, people lease out the land for the cultivation of vegetables, we bring in the seedlings, after the harvest, the profit is disbursed accordingly,’’ he said.
Explaining further, he said the seedlings are procured from research institutes adding however that it has nothing to do with Genetically Modified Food products.
Ebong said that over 22 vegetables could be grown in Akwa Ibom adding that the diversification into agriculture is to boost food production and create employment for the youth.
According to him, what the agency does isto guide the young people by telling them that money does not create money rather it is idea adding that cultivation of vegetables has not been turned into a million naira venture in the state.
Ebong who is also the special assistant to the governor on technical matters and due process also disclosed that a pencil factory which started test production in October 2016 has the capacity to produce 140, 000 packets of pencils in three months and has already received orders from outside the state.
In addition, he said a toothpick factory also established by the state government under the scheme has commenced production as part of efforts to instil the spirit of enterprise in the people.
According to him, the pencil factory would coexist with the tooth pick unit to redue cost of production and ensure economy of scale.
He assured that there was a ready market for the product as the period of test run was to source for available markets.
“If you enter that factory, there are three production lines for pencil and three production lines for tooth pick under one roof this is to save cost.
“Part of the test run production is to develop the market. I can tell you we have orders even as far as states from different parts of the country are coming to buy the product.’’
“The factory when in full operation, one line can produce 140, 000 cartons of pencil in three months, “Ebong said.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
