Abakiliki– Ebonyi State Governor, Rt Hon Ogbonnaya Francis Nwifuru, in furtherance of his manifesto, ‘The People’s Charter of Needs’, is reviving the Ebonyi State Hatchery.
A tweet by Leo Ekene Oketa, his Special Assistant (New Media) on 9th April, 2024 explained that in addition to reviving the long abandoned Ebonyi State Hatchery, Governor Nwifuru was expanding it by adding a feed mill.
“A NEW DAWN FOR EBONYI STATE HATCHERY
Ebonyi State Hatchery is coming back to live. Currently, it is being remodeled completely, courtesy of His Excellency,
– Governor, Ebonyi State. In the scheme of microeconomic decisions, Governor Nwifuru underlines Agriculture as invaluable. Evidently, it ranks third on the priority table of his manifesto, ‘The People’s Charter of Needs.’ The Hatchery which falls under the State Ministry of Agriculture, had been in existence before democratic Governance reached Ebonyi State.
Discernibly, it came to fore during the administration of the first civilian Governor of Ebonyi State. Spanning about 38 hectares, the Ebonyi State Hatchery is a poultry industry for raising chickens, both layers and broilers alike, in commercial quantities. It will house sections for fish and pig farming as well. It wields immense capacity to provide food, employment and businesses for Ebonyi people. Internally, it remains a huge source of revenue for the State. But for donkey years, it was left dilapidated and abandoned to ruins.
Today, it is taking a modern shape in content and structure. The Governor has not only vowed to bring the industry back to function effectively, he has approved the establishment of a feed mill in the Hatchery. In expanding the value chain of the industry, the feed mill is necessary for preparation and production of stock feeds – processing feed ingredients into a form that is suitable for chicken and other livestock consumption. When it comes to reality, feeds will be available for various poultry and livestock farmers within and outside the State, at a good price. An eye into the future of the State’s fiscal activity, shows that Agriculture is set to contribute a huge quota to the economic development of Ebonyi State. Baby steps they may be, but surely, they are laced in confidently structured plans and implementation processes. The story is same with the State’s Fertilizer Chemical Company.
And so, Ebonyi State Hatchery is set to become a fulcrum for the economic development of Ebonyi State, through its commercial activities of feed production and poultry farming. It is remarkable that Governor Francis Nwifuru has taken this a notch higher. He has indicated strong interest in the World Bank Assisted Project – Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES). L-PRES is a livestock farming project. In furtherance of his practical steps to expand and develop the agriculture sector of the State, he has paid the counterpart fund for the project and released funds for the renovation of the State Implementation Unit (SIU) office of the project. The Ebonyi State Hatchery will house this project as well. When the World Bank pays their own counterpart fund, the project will start fully and surely, Ebonyi State will benefit hugely from the project. And so, in Agriculture, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru is equally showing his mettle, to solve both the immediate and future needs of Ebonyi people. We will keep you updated as the project evolves, but in truth, Ebonyi State Hatchery is witnessing a new dawn, an exciting one at that. Just as it is summaraized in ‘The People’s Charter of Needs’, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru is developing Agriculture in Ebonyi State through practical farming.”
Public affairs analysts are impressed with the move and urge Nwifuru to invest in other areas that will enhance the state’s revenue such as value addition of the state’s Rice value chain through food processing.
Equally, they expect the Governor to ensure the resuscitation within the next one year of Nigercem Cement Company, Nkalagu, the oldest manufacturing company in the state.
