Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, Founder of Ogilisi Foundation, an Igbo sociocultural organisation, has commended the Anambra state Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for reintroducing the palm and coconut agro revolution.
Ezeonwuka disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Awka.
He said the two cash crops had the capacity of transforming the economic fortunes of the state if properly implemented.
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He said palm oil sold higher in the international market and had the capability of sustaining the livelihood of families in the long term.
“I want to appreciate Gov. Soludo for distribution of millions of palm seedlings to Anambra families.
“This is a pleasant return to the Micheal Okpara era which sustained the former Eastern region at that time.
“It may interest us to know that a palm tree yields 40kg of palm oil per annum, not considering other derivatives.
“And 20 trees will be about 800kg which when sold at three dollars and eight cents amounts to over N1.2 million in a year,” he said.
Ezeonwuka called on non-governmental organisation and wealthy citizens of the state to support the effort of the governor by donating high yielding palm seedlings for economic growth and development.
He said Anambra could earn more from palm oil than oil and gas if the initiative was proper harnessed.
He said while it was important for people to engage in farming practices that could sustain them in the interim, there was a need for strategic measures to guarantee economic security in the long run.
“There is no family that does not have space to plant five palm trees in their compound, even those that did german floor should excavate them and plant trees that are economically viable,” he said.
