Following an intensive week-long statewide assessment of the agricultural interventions and programmes of His Excellency, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, it is evident that Cross River State is making significant strides towards unlocking its vast agricultural potential and achieving sustainable economic prosperity through agriculture.
This was the overarching impression from the just-concluded statewide tour, led by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, to evaluate the progress, impact and implementation of the Governor’s people first agricultural policies and programmes across the state.
During the exercise,
the assessment team visited several intervention sites, including the 91-hectare soybean farm at Odukpani, 89 hectares soybean farm at Mgbeke in Yakurr under the Project Grow Initiative; and cowpea breeding stations across the state, including those at Orida in Biase, the College of Agriculture, Ovunum, the NYSC camp in Obubra and Nkarasi community in Ikom LGA. These are among the 12 community-based cowpea breeding stations established across the state.
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The cowpea breeding stations, facilitated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development and implemented by the Cowpea Farmers Association of Nigeria in collaboration with Women in Agriculture, represent a significant step in the state’s agricultural development. Having moved beyond the proof-of-concept stage, Cross River State is now transitioning into commercial cowpea cultivation as the state government has equally introduced the largest cowpea buy-back programme, under which 75 per cent of harvested cowpea will be purchased from farmers and stored in strategic reserves for vulnerable households during price shocks. Beyond increasing farmers’ income, the initiative is designed to bridge nutritional gaps by improving access to cowpea, an important source of affordable plant protein, particularly for vulnerable households.
Another major highlight was the inspection of the 96-hectare soybean farm at Bebi community in Obanliku, where harvesting and threshing activities are currently underway.
The team further assessed the 40 community-led seed yam multiplication centres established through the Yam Minisett Technology. The initiative which targets 68,000 metric tonnes being the largest ever yam intervention in the last 50 years, is designed to reduce the stress, cost and risks associated with yam farmers travelling to neighbouring states in search of quality seed yams. With these centres, Cross River State is expanding its agricultural capacity beyond the production of yams for consumption to include the multiplication and supply of seed yams, positioning farmers to meet local demand and explore new economic opportunities. Findings from the field visits also revealed encouraging progress across the centres, alongside privately owned yam minisett farms.
The coffee value chain also featured prominently during the tour, as the team assessed the cultivation practices and adaptation patterns of coffee farmers in selected communities. Among the sites visited were Professor Augustine Ogogo’s farm in Obanliku, featuring five hectares of coffee intercropped with cowpea, and another 40-hectares coffee farm in Belenge community.
Overall, the statewide assessment was both insightful and rewarding, providing an opportunity to witness firsthand the practical implementation, progress and emerging impact of the administration’s agricultural interventions. Beyond the figures and policy statements, the tour offered tangible evidence of ongoing efforts to strengthen agricultural productivity, empower farmers, stimulate rural economic activities and create sustainable livelihoods.
Indeed, the agricultural sector continues to provide a compelling demonstration of the People First philosophy of the Governor Bassey Otu-led administration, as the State builds sustainable food systems, steadily positioning agriculture as a strategic driver of economic growth, food security and shared prosperity.
