The Enugu State Government says it is set to establish 340 Greenhouse Technology farms across the 17 council areas in the state to boost exports of farm produce.
The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation, Dr Patrick Ubru, disclosed this on Thursday in Enugu.
Ubru said that the Greenhouse Technology farm was an initiative of Governor Peter Mbah to revolutionarise agriculture in the state.
He also said that the Greenhouse Technology farm had successfully completed its pilot stage in the last nine months, adding that it was highly successful and would be replicated in the council areas.
“After the successful pilot stage, we, in partnership with the 17 local government councils, are set up the Greenhouse Technology farms.
“And we want to get our people involved in this lucrative business of technological modern farming system,” he said.
The Commissioner disclosed that 20 Greenhouse Technology farms would be established in each of the 17 council areas and would be involved in an all year round cultivation of exotic vegetables and spices.
Under a controlled environment, we can do three or four times cropping and harvesting yearly. The improved seedling of exotic vegetables and spices can give us super yields and required export standards and specifications.
He added that the exotic vegetables and spices would be for export purposes, as the cargo terminal wing of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, would soon be completed to air freight the produce.
“The Greenhouse Technology farm initiative holds a lot of benefits and promises for the state as we already found out from its pilot scheme.
“Under a controlled environment, we can do three or four times cropping and harvesting yearly.
“The improved seedling of exotic vegetables and spices can give us super yields and required export standards and specifications.
“The Greenhouse Technology farms also have solar-powered cold box systems attached to it for preservation of the exotic vegetables and spices and ensuring they retain freshness for export.
“It is one of the initiatives meant to realise Governor Peter Mbah’s envisioned reality of moving the state economy.
Ubru added that each Greenhouse Technology farm would employ between four and six staff.
“We are encouraging corporate organisations and individuals to participate in the Greenhouse Technology farming, as the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation is ready to provide technical support for such private ventures to succeed.
“Our agriculture-loving governor is doing everything to ensure that agriculture becomes a big business venture, and no one regrets taking it up,” he added. (NAN)