The communities of Umuakpa, Okai, and Umuaka Umukoma Okoko in Item Bende North Constituency are endowed with abundant natural resources and fertile land, presenting vast but largely untapped agricultural potential. Notably, palm cultivation offers significant opportunities to supply palm oil and its derivatives both domestically and for export. Similarly, rice, cassava, and cocoa farming are well-suited to these communities’ agro-climatic conditions.
Regrettably, much of this potential remains unrealised due to traditional farming methods, lack of modern technology, and inadequate investment. As a result, the land lies fallow or is underutilised, yielding minimal economic benefit to the local populace.
To reverse this trend, a shift towards modern, technology-driven agriculture is imperative. Mechanisation, improved seed varieties, irrigation, and enhanced infrastructure would markedly increase productivity and enable value addition through agro-processing. This would stimulate employment, boost income, and generate increased revenue for both the communities and government, fostering sustainable development.
Beyond economic advancement, harnessing agricultural resources promises improved livelihoods, food security, and empowerment of vulnerable groups such as women and youth. Realising this potential requires concerted collaboration among government, private investors, development partners, and local communities to devise and implement a comprehensive development plan.
Therefore, this is an urgent call for targeted investment in these communities. Private sector stakeholders and development agencies are invited to capitalise on this opportunity by investing in modern agricultural technologies, infrastructure, and value chain development. Such investments will not only unlock the agricultural promise of Umuakpa, Okai, and Umuaka Umukoma Okoko but also generate sustainable returns while contributing to Nigeria’s broader economic growth and rural development.
It is time to transform latent potential into tangible prosperity for the benefit of the people and the nation.
_ Hon IBEKWE Nnamdi Chimdi FNIS., FCIMS.