Government To Revitalize State-Owned Cocoa Processing Industry In Abia State

Abia State Government says it will revitalize the state-owned cocoa processing industry to boost the production of the commodity and enhance the economic fortunes of the state.

The State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, announced this during a meeting with the members of the State Cocoa Transformation Committee in Umuahia.

He said that Nigeria was the largest exporter of cocoa after Côte d’Ivoire; hence the state government was poised to explore the entire value chain in producing and processing the commodity.

He added that the government would provide funding and training for cocoa farmers to adopt improved ways of farming to boost production.