Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State is set to launch a major agricultural initiative, tagged the Tree Crop Revolution, aimed at diversifying the state’s economy, boosting food security, and creating sustainable wealth through the large-scale cultivation of cash crops.
Poised to launch the Tree Crop Revolution in November 2025, the Akwa Ibom State Governor directed that the Akwa Ibom State Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP), which was formerly an agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, now becomes a stand-alone agency under the supervision of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.
He has also directed the immediate overhaul and remodeling of infrastructure in the premises.
The Governor made this known while conducting an unscheduled inspection of the facilities at the AKADEP premises in Uyo.
The Tree Crop Revolution was announced recently by the Governor.
The programme, which is to be managed by the Akwa Ibom State Agriculture and Food Security Committee, is headed by Professor Okon Ansa, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the State, with other members including Prof. Trenchard Ibia, also a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the State.
The Tree Crop Revolution is aimed at expanding palm oil production with high-yield varieties and, in the process, helping to create generational wealth for the people of Akwa Ibom State, especially those in rural communities, and ultimately return the State as a premier palm oil-producing state in the nation.
The Committee will now operate from the premises of AKADEP and will work closely with the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to ensure the successful launch of the programme in November across all the ten Federal Constituencies.
The facility is expected, among other things, to house the nursery for palm fruits that will be distributed to farmers in the ten Federal Constituencies, while the Agriculture and Food Security Committee will be on hand to off-take the produce during harvesting.
AKADEP is expected to attach at least two extension workers to each of the farms in the ten Federal Constituencies.