–
Imo State Government House Owerri
Press Release
The Imo Modern Poultry Avutu which had remained moribund for over 20 years has received a midas touch by the Rochas Okorocha government as part of its efforts to create employment opportunities, promote agriculture as well as boost the internally generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.
Flagging-off the sale of the first batch of about 10,000 chicken raised in the farm, the State Governor who was represented by the Speaker, Imo House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajimogu expressed joy that the Avutu Poultry which had remained one of the legacies of the late Sam Mbakwe administration about 30 years ago has come back to life.
The Imo Speaker said the present administration under the leadership of Governor Rochas Okorocha is not resting or its oars until all moribund industries in the state are revamped and abandoned projects completed.
He announced that the Imo Modern Poultry within its few months of reactivation, has produced the first batch of over 10,000 chicken for sale to the public and further said that the farm will make available more than 100,000 (One hundred thousand) birds for sale by December 2014.
Speaker Uwajimogu revealed that the farm has the capacity to house over 2.5 million birds as well as provide investment in other areas like fisheries, live stock, feed production, processing and packaging of frozen chicken. He therefore called on investors to take advantage of the opportunities available in the project.
The Speaker pledged the donation of 20,000 chicks into the poultry as part of his contribution to the development of the farm.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Sir Frank Ibezim recounted the journey through the reactivation of the Imo Modern Poultry by the present administration and commended Governor Okorocha for his vision.
Sir Ibezim noted that Imo Modern Poultry is the largest poultry South Saharan Africa situate on about 177 hectres of land with 45 poultry houses of 2.5 million birds capacity.
He said the farm has a feed mill of 3,000 metric tons silo as well as hatcheries, a layer capacity of 235,000 birds and about 100 ton cold room for preservation of processed chicken.
Sir Ibezim pointed out that government is working in collaboration with a South African Agric investment Company, Whawna Crux to rehabilitate the Poultry and make it function to full capacity.
The Agric Commissioner said the farm will engage both skilled and unskilled manpower, provide capacity building to youths on modern poultry keeping as well as empower and provide bye off and processing services for poultry farmers in the state.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Finance, Deacon Chike Okafor observed with joy that the project which began in July 2014 has started yielding dividends and commended the State government and her South African partners for making the project a reality.
Deacon Okafor who hails from Obowo Local Government where the poultry is sited, expressed appreciation for the massive investment and infrastructural development made in the area.
The Commissioner for Community Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Val Mbamala expressed regrets over the neglect of investment projects by previous administration which had led to the poor revenue generation in the State. He commended Governor Rochas Okorocha for rehabilitating the Imo Modern Poultry, Imo Rubber Company, Imo Palm Plantation among others.
The traditional ruler of Avutu Autonomous Community, HRH Eze Ebel Chukwuocha and the Transition Committee Chairman, Barr. Eric Nwokorie expressed happiness that the farm would engage unemployed youths in the area and assured the State government of the continued support of the people of Obowo.
Present at the occasion were the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs. Lilian Asuzu, traditional rulers in Obowo LGA, the Mayor of Okigwe zone, Chief Tony Black Nduka, women and youth groups in Obowo and some members of the Imo state Executive Council as well as All Progressives Congress (APC) party members.
Unadike William C
For: SSA Media
Government House Owerri
