Abia’s cocoa output sufficient to support chocolate factory — Emetu

Abia State deputy governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, has said the state’s cocoa production if properly harnessed, can sustain a chocolate factory.

Emetu stated this yesterday when the state chapter of the Cocoa Farmers Association paid him a courtesy visit to his office in Umuahia, the state capital.

He said the doors of the state were open to investors to come and harness the potential as the present administration had provided the enabling environment.

Commending members of the chapter for the visit, he added that the administration was committed to improving agriculture as a revenue earner and employment creator.

Chairman of the chapter of the association, John Kalu, said they came to fraternise with the deputy governor as the chairman of the state Cocoa Transformation Committee.

He informed him of the level of preparation for the forthcoming Second Annual Cocoa Festival in the country scheduled for the 18th-19th of this month.

The state cocoa desk officer, Enoch Eke, said the state’s participation in the festival would improve farmers’ skills in cocoa production.