By Kelvin Obambon
In a determination to transform its agricultural landscape and eliminate dependence on neighbouring states for planting materials, the Cross River State Government has officially flagged off the 2026 wet season farming with the introduction of rapid multiplication technologies and free input distribution.
Speaking on Wednesday at a well-attended event in Calabar, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, declared that the state is strategically positioning itself to become a dominant player in yam production, processing, and seed commercialization within Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.
According to Ebokpo, the cornerstone of this year’s farming drive is a partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to deploy the Rapid Seed Yam Multiplication Technology, specifically the Yam Minisett Technique.
He explained that traditionally, yam farmers have been forced to reserve up to 30 percent of their annual harvests as planting material for subsequent seasons, a practice that limits food availability and inflates production costs.
“Seed yam remains the most expensive input in yam production, accounting for between 25 and 60 percent of total production cost,” Ebokpo said. “Studies have shown that the use of certified seed yam alone can boost farmers’ income by up to 40 percent. Therefore, what is being distributed today is not just farm input; it is an investment in your future prosperity.”
Beyond boosting yields, the local multiplication initiative aims to safeguard the lives of local farmers. The Commissioner commended Governor Bassey Edet Otu for approving the IITA collaboration, noting it would end the risky, long-distance journeys farmers previously took to states like Benue and Taraba in search of seeds.
“Journeys that often expose them to accidents, kidnappings, armed robbery attacks, swindling, and other avoidable risks will now be a thing of the past,” he said.
To ensure sustainability of the project, Ebokpo further clarified that the ministry has already initiated the establishment of 40 community-led seed yam centres across the 18 Local Government Areas. These hubs, according to him, will be strictly licensed and regulated by the National Agricultural Seeds Council to guarantee quality assurance, standardization, and traceability.
In addition to seed yams, the state government distributed highly improved, climate-resilient, and high-yielding soybean varieties capable of producing over one metric ton per hectare.
Earlier in his welcome address, Elder (Dr.) Joseph Ikongah, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, urged extension agents to diligently guide farmers on proper inputs application, particularly regarding fertilizer usage on nitrogen-fixing soybeans, as the state steps into its active planting window.
Endorsing the initiative, National Coordinator of IFAD-Assisted LIFE-ND Programme, Engr. Sani Abiodun, praised the state government’s youth-driven, technology-forward approach.
“The state has succeeded in bringing through technology as a driver… As a project, we are ready to partner, collaborate, and provide necessary incentives to drive development and boost agriculture in the state,” he said.
Also speaking, Chief Alban Nwogu, the State Programme Coordinator of the Homestead Farming Programme (HSFP), shed light on the efficiency of the new system. He noted that while the conventional method yields only 5 to 8 seed yams per tuber, the minisett technique enables a single tuber to generate between 20 and 30 high-quality planting setts.
“Our current average yam yield is about 10 metric tonnes per hectare, but the state is targeting an increase to 30 metric tonnes per hectare by the year 2027,” Nwogu stated.
On his part, Dennis Ikpali, the Coordinator of Project Grow Cross River, revealed that a successful pilot phase had already resulted in the aggregation and shipment of 11.4 tonnes of soybeans to Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc in Ibadan. To solidify market access, Flour Mills has seconded an agronomist to the state to strengthen extension advisory and post-harvest management.
However, the state government emphasized that full ownership must come from the grassroots. Accordingly, the Cross River State Chapters of the National Association of Yam Farmers, Processors and Marketers of Nigeria, alongside the Soybean Farmers Association of Nigeria, have been tasked with driving the implementation process to ensure accountability.
To track productivity, the Ministry announced that all beneficiary farms will be geo-located and integrated into the State Agricultural Data Bank. Meanwhile, the Cross River State Homestead Farming Programme will begin profiling urban multiplication centers within Calabar South and Calabar Municipality.
The flag-off ceremony drew key agricultural stakeholders, including All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Cassava Growers Association of Nigeria, Cross River Agricultural Development Programme (CR-ADP), NIRSAL Bank, Women in Agriculture (Cross River Chapter), among others.
The event climaxed with the presentation of seed yams, Soybeans and all-purpose fertilizer to beneficiary farmers. The inputs will be distributed to farmers across the state.
