Nze Venantius Acho Nwokorie, director of I.N. Venantius Nigeria Limited, a business mogul who diversified into agriculture, wants the incoming governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha to place the
agricultural sector of the state economy on his priority list.
This, Nwokorie said, would help to make his government look different from other previous administrations including the out-going government in the state and also further endear him to the heart of the good people of Imo State.
“If such is done it will place the state in a good footing, create job opportunities for the people, especially the youth, stem the growing unemployment, provide food for local consumption and export to other states and African countries,” he said.
The industrialist said that placing priority in agriculture would not only create viable opportunities for the people to invest in agro-allied ventures but increase the monthly purse of the state through increase in the internally generated revenue (IGR) so that government would have more money to pay salaries and pay contractors for projects awarded and executed.
He urged Ihedioha to help and simplify access to land for commercial agricultural purposes, including agro-allied ventures as access to land has been a hindrance to most people who want to go into
commercial agriculture in Imo.
As the absence of agricities has been a challenge to farmers who want places to process agric produce; therefore, Nwokorie urged the incoming government to establish such in the three senatorial
zones of the state so that farmers would see where to go and process their agric produce for sales locally and for export.
He disclosed that his plan to diversify into agriculture has helped to provide job opportunities to the people in his community, Ehime Mbano.
Nwokorie, who has large acres of palm plantation, described palm oil as a “red gold”, saying that it costs more than crude oil in the international market.
According to him, “With sufficient government interest in agricultural extension services, and in educating small farm holders in commercial farming, processes, provision of improved seedlings,
And sale of fertilizers at subsidized rate, farming would flourish.
SABY ELEMBA, Owerri
