By Onwa Ekor, Calabar
In a bid to unlock the potentials while driving an inclusive and sustainable development, Cross River government has validated a 7-year strategic plan for cocoa, coffee and oil palm.
At a validation workshop for multi stakeholders committee on the three cash crops, held at Axari hotel in Calabar the Cross River capital, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, noted that the trio of cocoa, coffee and oil palm hold immense promise not only as foreign exchange earners but as catalysts for rural development, poverty reduction and food security.
According to him, to realise their potential, a coordinated and strategic approach is required to address the challenges across the entire value chain while embracing innovation and sustainability.
He maintained that the plan reflects extensive consultations, rigorous research and the aspirations of all stakeholders in the cocoa, coffee and oil palm industries.
Applauding the governor, Prince Bassey Otu, for spearheading the inauguration of the multi stakeholders committee with a mandate of facilitating prosperous strategies in the agricultural sector, the Commissioner remarked that, “it is not just a roadmap but a bold vision to unlock the potentials of these three critical crops through a value chain approach that prioritizes productivity, sustainability and market competitiveness.”
Giving an overview of the strategic plan, Chairman, multi stakeholders committee on cocoa, coffee and oil palm in Cross River, Prof Susan Ohen, noted that the said crops generate employment and revenue for government hence the need for a clear plan showing compliance with regulations, improved quality and standards in the crops, as well as highlighting value additions.
Ohen who doubles as the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture in the University of Calabar, disclosed that the committee identified certain risks associated with the plan such as climate variability, environmental degradation, market price vulnerability including credit and credit institutional regulations, adding that it also suggested mitigation measures like climate smart agriculture, agro forestry practices, price stabilization mechanisms and farmers capacity building, among others.
“The plan,” she also disclosed, “approved for development partners to continue to provide technical assistance and support, financial institutions to offer affordable credit facilities and insurance scheme for farmers and investors, while community leaders are to mediate when there are conflicts, even as universities and research institutions are to conduct innovative research, develop solutions for sector challenges, train farmers and extension officers for best practices.”
For Produce Inspectorate department, the Committee Chairman explained that, it would ensure quality control and compliance with standards across the value chain, while youths and women would actively participate and advocate for inclusive policies.
State Economic Adviser, Dr. Peter Oti, assured that the state government would continue to offer all the needed support for agriculture to thrive as it energises human being while offering the economy a vehicle for running state affairs.
“Agriculture does not fail you, rather it is oil revenue and other sources of revenue that fail,” Oti said, imploring that, “agriculture will give you energy, provide money for running the economy.”
Earlier, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development in Cross River, Ntufam Ekpe Bassey, in his address lauded the efforts of Governor Bassey Otu, admitting that, “there is wisdom to set up this special committee to develop the strategic plan for the development of cocoa, coffee and oil palm in the state, the very cash crops that made Nigeria the giant of Africa.”
Bassey who doubles as the Secretary of the committee traced history as he revealed that in 1948, the state of Israel was created and upon creation the Jews returned to a dry land with two things, prayer and dreams.
According to him, “they prayed to God and had dreams to turn things around and that dream led them to agriculture and technology. About this time Nigeria as a country was flourishing in agriculture, we had the cocoa, oil palms, groundnut and all those cash crops that truly made the country to be self sufficient.”
He further stated, “Nigeria was self sufficient and doing well until sometimes in our life when we derailed and started believing more on oil and recently we are all witnesses to the global challenges that we have about food,” a development he averred that, the governor, Prince Bassey Otu, is reversing to the right path, through the present agricultural initiative in the state.
