CHAPTER ONE:- INCREASED AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
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The agricultural sector holds the ace in the economic development of the South East. The region is richly endowed by fertile soil, with tropical rains to complement the rivers and swamps that go across the region. Though highly notable in commercial activities, the entire region is predominately agrarian in nature, and substantial part of the population are engaged in agricultural production all year round. The region is rich in the production of rice, yam, palm produce, rubber, cassava, maize, cucumber, plantain and cocoyam. Presently there is an increased production of rice in Ebonyi and Anambra State.
Ebonyi State is one of the most agrarian of the states in Nigeria. Made up of predominantly of farmers, with savanna and semi tropical vegetation, humid, sandy and marshy soil, the state is blessed with moisture land for growing of varieties of cash and food crops, such as rice, yam, cassava, cocoyam. Among the agricultural potential, the production of the famous Abakaliki rice has made the state so popular and a beehive of commercial activities. No visitor comes to Abakaliki, the state capital, without testifying of the high quality Abakaliki rice compared with other rice produced locally and internationally. The Abakaliki rice has a lot of nutritional values. It is even better and graded higher for its nutritional values.
Before and after Ebonyi State was created in 1996, agriculture remains the mainstay of the people. The Abakaliki Rice Mill which started production in 1967 is adjudged to be the first indigenous company since the creation of the state in 1996. At the creation of the State, at least Abakaliki Rice Mill Industry was the only existing industry in the State but on January 1, 2000, customary right of occupancy with the respect to the entire area of land measuring 1938.464 square meters occupied by the company was issued by the Government of Ebonyi State. Inside the rice mill various workers abound – machine operators, dust carriers, bag stickers, off loaders, barrow pushers, on-loaders, accountants, water suppliers, water suppliers, security men and a host of others.
Presently in all communities and local council areas, milling machines are situated for commercial activities, especially for residents outside the capital city that may find it difficult to access the Abakaliki Rice mill. This large cluster of rice milling industry is owned and managed by private individuals and cooperative societies who have their milling machines, while government only collects royalties/levies from them. The price differs depending on the quality of the rice and specie. Currently, due to the ban on importation of foreign rice, the cost of a bushel of rice is sold for N10,000 and above, depending on the quality, as against N4,000 few years ago.
In Anambra State, the government is also encouraging investors to embrace farming. The Coscharis Farms, located at Anaku in Anambra West Local Government Area has helped a great deal in producing the now famed Anambra Rice.
In Akili Ozizor, Ogbaru Local Government Area, a silent revolution is also going on, Fish ponds are springing up everywhere within the farm while the latest technological inventions in Agriculture are being used to ensure maximum productivity.
Also in Imo state, the state government has led the way in trying to revive the expanse palm produce that were dominant in the state, and earned it significant income decades ago. The regeneration of the palm industry in the region has spread across the five states in the southeastern region and the gains of the new drive to increase agricultural activities are unfolding.
Please stay tune for Chapter two........