Certified Financial Education Instructor Kalu Aja has said that contrary to the ridicule, the Chairman of Igbo Etiti Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State, Eric Odo, should be commended for appointing Senior Special Assistants on Garden Egg, Yam and Pepper.
Criticism had followed the appointment but Kalu, the CEO of Financial Planning in a post via his verified X handle, said “this is a crop with 50% ROI, how many investment in Nigeria offer 50%? with low capital?
“Let me say that this LGA Chairmen should be commended for his entrepreneur insight. The only problem i see is that he is making the position temporary and not fully embracing the economics of Garden Egg, so let me help. I am quoting a study done by J.C. Ibe, T.C. Okoh and R.N. Aruah in December 2022
“1. Garden Egg is an economically important crop in the South East. Its used also as a substitute for Kola, Igbos “worship” Kola
“2. Garden egg is probably the third most consumed fruity vegetable in Nigeria and Ghana, after pepper and tomatoes (Mangan et al. 2017).”
“3. According to Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Agency Report (2020) and Usifo et al. (2020), the profitability of garden egg farming is very high with more than 50% return on investment”
“4. In a study done in small holder farms in Uzo-uani Local Government Area, Enugu State “total revenue was ₦110,000.00, while total cost was ₦26,183.46. Net Farm Income (NFI) was ₦83,816.54”. remember, these are small scale farms, imagine if this was at scale, with mechanization, the costs fall
“5. This is exportable produce. Nigerians in the Diaspora will gladly pay for quality packed garden eggs from Nigeria
“The ridicule of the post revels something much deeper, that Nigerian sneer at agriculture and any other venture until someone goes there and make it big
“I again commend the LGA Chairman, Sir, this is not a part time gig, please get land, clear it, allocate to cooperatives, equip the youth in the community with credit, fertilizer, irrigation pumps to farm garden eggs, pepper etc., build storage, pack, clean and export to earn $.
“That’s how you build an economy from the ground up.”
Thank you for putting the record straight. Those who criticize the LGA Chairman are the ignorant people. Local Government as a grassroot based government should venture into agriculture to boost their revenue. Kudos to Hon. Odo.