Executive Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Mr Aneke Ifemeni disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking as guest of Orientation Panorama Platform on Voice of Delta Radio 97.9 FM.
He said that coconut farming has become a lucrative business and one of the major foreign exchange earner for governments and investors in the country.
He said that the essence of public-private partnership arrangement was to enable land owners who do not have the required financial muscles to venture into coconut farming by making their land available, so as to share profits with government and other core investors.
Ifemeni who is also the Coordinator of Delta State Coconut Development Programme (DSCDP), said that as a result of the ongoing PPP arrangement, government acquired several hectares of land across the state for coconut farming.
He noted that the pilot programmes have been flagged off in some communities under the governor’s ‘MORE agenda’.
”Our amiable visionary Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori is very passionate about wealth and job creation for our youths and Deltans across board.
“He strongly believe that through deliberate huge investments in agriculture and coconut farming, thousands of Deltans shall become successful entrepreneurs and millionaires in the near future.
“Government has in the process acquired vast land running into several hectares through public-private partnership wherein land owners without financial muscles donate or lease their land for coconut farming for a specific period of time, share profits with government and/or local and foreign investors, ” he said.
Ifemeni added,”this arrangement is to facilitate coconut farming development in the state, and at the same time create wealth and job opportunities for our people.
“There are already made export and domestic markets for Coconut products, including coconut oil. It’s a flourishing business and we encourage land owners to contact the state governor for partnership.
“Furthermore, relevant government agencies are ready to connect investors with local coconut farmers, and also through the office of the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, situated at Olorogun Felix Ibru Secretariat along Mariam Babaginda Way, Asaba, the state capital,” Aneke said.
Orientation Panorama on Voice of Delta Radio is an initiative of Delta State Orientation Bureau (DSOB), in collaboration with Delta Broadcasting Service Asaba, to project the policies, programmes and achievements of the State government and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
