Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Dec 14, 2012 6:47:58 GMT -5
Umuahia — An 85-year-old cocoa farmer in Abia State who was recently declared number one cocoa producer in Nigeria, Chief David Nnochirionye Onyenweaku, was among the 148 people that were awarded national honours by President Goodluck Jonathan this year. Onyenweka who hails from Ahiaeke village was given Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR). In this interview, the cocoa farmer emphasizes the need for Nigeria to embrace agriculture. Excerpts:
Chief, may we know how you feel over the national honour conferred on you by President Jonathan?
I feel highly delighted and full of thanks to God who made this award possible. I never thought in my life time that the neglected cocoa farming I invested in would bring in fame not to think of getting recognition from the state and the federal government--honouring me with the award of Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR). I feel humbled by the government's gesture.
Could you recall when you started farming, what motivated you to go into cocoa farming at that time?
I started farming as far back as 1952 after my primary school education in 1949.The story is so long but I have to mention that immediately I left school, I had a burning desire to become a farmer and I enrolled in Umudike Agricultural Research Institute between 1950-52 where I was trained on the techniques of rearing sheep and poultry farming.
After that course, I was presented a diploma certificate in Agriculture. I refused to pick a job with the National Research Institute, Umudike. Rather, I approached an uncle , the late Paul Onyeweaku who gave me money to practice what I was trained in at Umudike.
I started with the breeding of sheep and chicken but somewhere along the line, I had a misfortune. All my birds died in one season! That forced me to change to palm oil trading.
While I was transacting my palm oil business, I met one cocoa farmer at Umuahia cocoa market named Akwata. The man came to sell bags of cocoa to merchants. I watched the man sold a bag of cocoa to merchants at the mouth watering price of £8. I was astonished!
Source: allafrica.com/stories/201212100682.html
Chief, may we know how you feel over the national honour conferred on you by President Jonathan?
I feel highly delighted and full of thanks to God who made this award possible. I never thought in my life time that the neglected cocoa farming I invested in would bring in fame not to think of getting recognition from the state and the federal government--honouring me with the award of Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR). I feel humbled by the government's gesture.
Could you recall when you started farming, what motivated you to go into cocoa farming at that time?
I started farming as far back as 1952 after my primary school education in 1949.The story is so long but I have to mention that immediately I left school, I had a burning desire to become a farmer and I enrolled in Umudike Agricultural Research Institute between 1950-52 where I was trained on the techniques of rearing sheep and poultry farming.
After that course, I was presented a diploma certificate in Agriculture. I refused to pick a job with the National Research Institute, Umudike. Rather, I approached an uncle , the late Paul Onyeweaku who gave me money to practice what I was trained in at Umudike.
I started with the breeding of sheep and chicken but somewhere along the line, I had a misfortune. All my birds died in one season! That forced me to change to palm oil trading.
While I was transacting my palm oil business, I met one cocoa farmer at Umuahia cocoa market named Akwata. The man came to sell bags of cocoa to merchants. I watched the man sold a bag of cocoa to merchants at the mouth watering price of £8. I was astonished!
Source: allafrica.com/stories/201212100682.html
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