The Enugu State Government would commence the commercial shipment of pineapple to Europe this year, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke, said on Monday.
Ugwoke, who said this while addressing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting, explained that the commodity would be harvested from the 150-hectare Enugu-San Carlos Pineapple Farm.
The meeting was chaired by Governor Sullivan Chime at the Government House, Enugu.
The commissioner said that in addition to the production of pineapple, the council also approved the introduction of banana and livestock, particularly cattle, in the farm, which is jointly owned by the state government and San Carlos, a United States-based farming conglomerate.
The council also approved N880.8m as the state’s equity counterpart contribution for new investments in the farm.
Ugwoke said the council approved another N1.1bn for the completion of construction work on two major inter-local government rural roads in parts of the state.
He added that about N48.8m was approved for the implementation of the health commodity supply component of the 2013 Millennium Development Goals Local Government Track for six local government areas of Awgu, Enugu East, Igbo-Eze South, Nkanu West, Nsukka and Udi.
It is expected that hospital equipment, drugs and other materials needed in health care facilities in the state will be provided with the sum.
Ugwoke similarly said the council directed that a draft bill for a law to upgrade the State College of Agriculture and Agro-Entrepreneurship in Iwollo Oghe to the Enugu State Polytechnic should be forwarded to the state House of Assembly for consideration and possible passage.
According to the commissioner, the bill, if passed into law, and the school, will help to reduce the hardship being faced by many candidates seeking admission into higher institutions in the state and also facilitate the steady and direct in-flow of material and financial resources to the institution from outside the state.
