Imo eyes opportunities in agric export

The Imo State government has moved to improve the state economy by tapping into the various opportunities which the agricultural sector offers.

Speaking during a webinar on Saturday, experts in the agricultural sector highlighted the economic potential in the exportation of agricultural produce such as palm oil, pineapple, spices and other herbal products.

An expert, Ajuruchi Anthony, identified produce such as palm kernel, shell, melon, and spices as profitable items suitable for exportation and income generation.

Anthony, the state coordinator, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, said, “As an agency that is in charge of palm oil export in Nigeria and Imo State where I operate, we know that we have some products in Imo.

“We are blessed with palm produce and its derivatives like palm kernel, shell, melon, spices of various types and a lot of them.

“We also have vegetables in Imo State that we can also invest in, in the export business.”

He urged interested investors and persons to reach out to the state office for details, pledging that the agency supports interested investors with training and also equip them with necessary resources as well.

Another panellist, Appolonia Obiloma said, “We are into production, processing and packaging of herbal products, fruits and spices.”

She spoke about how her organisation exports these products from Imo, including cassava flour, to a country like Togo and, in turn, generates income.

Another speaker, Lilian Moses-Okoro, an academic technologist at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, talked about how food exportation which was a side hustle for her became a main business.

She talked about how digital marketing aided the business.

While identifying the challenge of online fraud, she said her effort in gaining customers’ trust paved the way for her.

The webinar was organised by the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Simon Ebegbulem, and moderated by the Chief Economic Adviser to the state government, Professor Kenneth Amaeshi.

Another panellist present was Awogu Okechukwu and the programme was co-moderated by the state Director General, Imo Investment Promotion Agency, Dr Jude Nzeakor.