Akwa Ibom Agriculture Programme Gains Autonomy in Palm Oil Production Revival

News in Brief

-Ahead of the launch of the Tree Crop Revolution, the Akwa Ibom State Government has announced plans to grant autonomy to its agricultural development programme .

-Governor Umo Eno said the initiative would focus on deploying high-yield crop varieties, farmer training, and a guaranteed produce off-take system.

In preparation for the Tree Crop Revolution project to revive palm oil production in the state, the Akwa Ibom State Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP) will be established as a stand-alone agency.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, issued a directive for AKADEP, a programme formerly under the Ministry of Agriculture, to become an independent agency operating directly under the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

According to Eno, this directive preps the agency to adequately manage the implementation of the Tree Crop Revolution initiative, a flagship programme of the Eno administration. The project aims to revitalise palm oil production in the state by introducing high-yielding tree crop varieties. It is designed not only to boost agricultural output but also to create generational wealth, especially for rural communities.

Restructuring Underway

To effectively implement the programme, Governor Eno also ordered an immediate overhaul and remodelling of the facility to meet the needs of the upcoming agricultural initiative.

The revolution project will be launched in November 2025 and coordinated by the Akwa Ibom State Agriculture and Food Security Committee, chaired by the former commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Okon Ansa, alongside Prof. Trenchard Ibia, who will also serve on the team. 

Governor Eno further disclosed that the newly remodelled AKADEP premises will serve as the operational base for the committee, which will oversee implementation across all ten federal constituencies in the state. The facility is expected to include nurseries for palm seedlings, which will be distributed to farmers.

Extension Support and Market Access

Under the new framework, each participating farm will receive continuous support from two agricultural extension officers from AKADEP. The government has also developed a structured off-take scheme to purchase farm produce directly from growers to ensure market stability and sustainability.

The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to agriculture-led development, positioning Akwa Ibom as a leading palm oil-producing state once again.