SouthEast:

We are talking about cocoa production in Abia which has been a practice long b4 Orji was born, let alone becaming a governor. Can you separate that from your local politics?

Eko Atlantic: Like a poster stated earlier, various cash crops can be grown in any region/state but are better grown in few regions. Oil palm is well grown in Ondo(ile-oluji) and even in large scale, but that doesn't mean it's the best place to grow oil palm when the east that has the best soil for oil palm cultivation is there.

Cote d' voir has a better soil for cocoa cultivation and better cocoa produce than western Nigeria, yet the western Nigeria was once leading in cocoa production at a global stage. There is no reason why Abia government shouldn't invest in cocoa production even if the state is not the best place to grow it. As far as the government is ready to invest whatever it takes to make the state a real cocoa producer, it's a free world.

omonnakoda:
I am not sure that better soil explains Cote d'Ivoires higher production. Where is the evidence?
What is the area of land cultivated in both countries ? Do they use the same quality of inputs and knowledge,disease control techniques etc.Do they face the same pests,diseases or other challenges. Nigeria's declining production at some time may be partially explained by the oil boom,declining investment and failure to update knowledge or by other things
First of all what are the OPTIMAL conditions for Oil Palm or Cocoa production and what is the basis of that "knowledge"? How do we know this?
We might as well say Germany does better than England at football because they eat more pork!!
My view is knowledge and technology are probably more important in agricultural output than soil differences in many circumstances

This working paper provides research findings emanating from the De-Agrarianisation and Rural Employment (DARE) Research Programme, coordinated by the African Studies Centre, Leiden. The aim of the Programme was to examine, from a multidisciplinary perspective, the changes in size and significance of the peasant population in sub-Saharan African countries and to draw attention to the new labour patterns and unfolding rural-urban relations now taking place. This paper focuses on Nigeria and chronicles the patterns of long-term diversification that are observable in the cocoa farming community of Alade in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State. After some historical background information on cocoa cultivation and government policies up to 1970, when Nigeria began to experience its oil boom, it looks at the impact of the oil boom of the 1970s and the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), introduced in 1986, on cocoa farming before turning to the situation of household production and reproduction in the aftermath of SAP, and the internal dynamics of Alade households. Finally, it looks at the extent and trends of diversification of livelihood strategies within the farming community. The conclusion is that SAP has led to a revival of cocoa farming in Nigeria and that farming households have responded to new opportunities opened up to them by adjusting their use of household resources. However, the benefits of this revival have not been evenly spread

obinalihe: @ mendept,your an idiots,you are only paid to malign the state government but i tell you ,you are a failed empty vessel ,you can not make any good sound...Abia has got off to a glorious start and we are happy about it,so all you are doing is a waste of time...look for a better job to do...

SouthEast:

We are talking about cocoa production in Abia which has been a practice long b4 Orji was born, let alone becaming a governor. Can you separate that from your local politics?

ikwere militant: there u go agan.wen they ask u guys to travel u guys won't.don't u no that the largest single cocoa farmer is in bende lga of abia state.and they have cocoa viability in ikwuano lga.so wat makes u tink abias soil is acidic for cocoa did u conduct d test urself or ure one of those that develope runing stomach or migrain headche when ever u here anytn good from ibos.

ocular007: The administration of T.A has brought smiles in the face of many Abians and am we are so proud of what we are seeing ,his performances are not discouraging ,T.A has been up and running with projects,legacy projects that will speak for him over time,so we are greatly privileged to have got him...Orji Uzor Kalu was on the same seat for 8 years without achieving any thing concrete...so you guys should shut up.....

censure4truth: useless people will come here and start mouthing dirtily like pigs on rotten food....i mean what has T.A done wrong/ did you guys forgot that OUK WAS IN ABIA FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS ,all he did was loot and loot and use his touts like you guys are to mess Abia state up and embezzle all the money meant to be used in developing the state.....so disclaimers and foolish critics,what have you got to talk about OUK of Igbere,the thief we all know,since you guys want to talk about under performing governor,and forgot that THE UNDER-PERFORMING GOVERNOR WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE ON OUR TONGUE Is OUK THE ROGUE

madam_oringo: Cocoa belongs to the SW Yorubas and their kins, why don't ibos go back to their palm oil and palm trees? Why are they ashamed or afraid of it? This is the trade and crop of your grand fathers for goodness sake! Why

Is it because of the offemmanu bull shaite the small ones are always shouting around that is causing the disaffection to palm oil??

censure4truth: @gidson,omonakoda and yakki,you guys are envy and jealous because Eko Atlantic has summoned truth and decided to reveal it like a card for all to see,you guys are just making the most sound of an empty vessel ...there is nothing like ,as people used to say,we all know THE NORTHERNERS as the sole producers of rice,beans,tomatoes and all the rest of cash crops,any state with vested interest can invest in agriculture depending their deepened interest ,and with that put into place they can generate result that will overwhelm others who have been into for a long time...so i don't belong in past glories.....i hope
you guys would understand....

censure4truth: @IGBO-SON,you don't have any point here as far as am concern...so think before you talk...you lack analytical mindset

censure4truth: omonnakoda,if you have been here from the out set you would know u even lack understanding .....sorry ,its not your fault,its nature that made you so,......so you can continue being the megalomaniacal catastrophic invader of peace....but we are not moved not muted by your sadistic approach,we would stand so tall to condemn your falsity.........you and your cohorts

obinalihe: @ SouthEast,you are the miscreant in the making who would write rubbish,i know you are also the clone in Mensdept,the chief of negativity ..all of you are derogators,you can not do any better outside this forum....shameful things

obinalihe: @Meringe,you are talking cluelessly uselessly ,there is no truth about what you are saying ,when it comes to sanitation Abia state has tried to maintain healthy environment, and its only selfish business individuals in Aba that are trying to over work the environmental agencies in Abia state....regardless of that ,Abia state government has been on course to fast-track the developmental process by and large,so all these weak minds are trying to distract us from the truth....@Eko Atlantic,i support your last statement...Abia can grown crops ,no man is bound to monopoly of power.....so Abia can do better in agriculture because we have the technical know-how

censure4truth: omonnakoda,if you have been here from the out set you would know u even lack understanding .....sorry ,its not your fault,its nature that made you so,......so you can continue being the megalomaniacal catastrophic invader of peace....but we are not moved not muted by your sadistic approach,we would stand so tall to condemn your falsity.........you and your cohorts