The Non-Governmental Organisation Ndigbo Unity Forum has called on South-East governors to revive agricultural plantations and farm estates established by the defunct Eastern Regional Government.
The group’s Chairman, Chief Augustine Chukwudum, made the appeal on Thursday during an interactive session with journalists in Enugu.
Chukwudum emphasized the need for governors to leverage the region’s agricultural potential to create jobs and secure the economic future of coming generations.
He specifically urged investment in palm, cashew, breadfruit, and plantain plantations spread across the South-East.
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“It is disheartening that the South-East, once a leading producer of palm oil and derivatives for export, now meets less than 20 per cent of local demand,” he said, noting recent NAFDAC warnings about contaminated palm oil, especially imported substitutes.
Chukwudum added that fully optimized plantations and farm estates could generate two million direct and indirect jobs and significantly boost exports, improving regional incomes.
He also called on wealthy individuals to establish agro-allied industries or support farming cooperatives to add value to local agricultural products. “This will create more jobs and economic opportunities for everyone,” he said.
