As Cross River hosts the agroecological zonal workshop of the Nigeria sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW) Programme, the state Commissioner for finance, Dr. Mike Odere, says the project would improve food availability, if properly managed.
Odere, at the workshop held at the State Library complex Calabar, remarked that AGROW represents a new era in agricultural programme design, one that prioritises consultation, transparency and community participation.
He explained that unlike past interventions designed centrally from Abuja, AGROW is being shaped directly by farmers, processors, traders, and other key actors who understand real field-level challenges.
According to him, Cross River, located within the lowland rainforest agroecological zone, has identified priority crops such as rice, cocoa, palm, and cassava, maintaining that, only stakeholder inputs will determine the final direction.
Odere also affirmed that the project aims to establish a complete, efficient value chain, from production to processing and market access, while addressing persistent barriers such as security concerns, high input costs and access to farmland.
Representative of the Presidential Food Systems Coordination Unit (PFSCU), Mr. Eniola Akindele said the programme is being developed across seven agroecological zones to ensure tailored implementation, admitting that, AGROW also aims to make Nigeria’s food systems sustainable after years of volatility while adopting a different and more accountable model of government intervention.
On her part, Cross River Accountant General, Dr. Glory Effiong, argued that AGROW presents a significant opportunity to rebuild food security through smarter value-chain support systems, stressing the need for sustainable preservation systems for perishable fruits as farmers often suffer huge losses during peak seasons.
President, Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CALCCIMA), Mr. Kelly Ayamba, described AGROW as a major step towards modernizing Nigeria’s agricultural value chain, pointing out that, inputs from the Technical Working Group through wide stakeholder consultations, remains crucial for grounded and implementable initiative.
Cautioning that farmers must view agriculture as a full-fledged business as the days of subsistence farming were over, he cited Cross River’s ₦2 billion joint agricultural processing fund with the Bank of Industry as an example of available support that many farmers are still unaware of.
Contributing, Managing Director of Ayip Eku Oil Palm and a long-standing agricultural investor in the state, Prince Muyi Ladoja, reasoned that smallholder farmers remain the backbone of the sector but face numerous challenges, from land clearing to input financing and lack of guaranteed markets.
He further recommended strong transparency mechanisms and the involvement of independent oversight bodies to ensure that commitments under the programme are honoured.
AGROW is a federal government initiative supported by the World Bank to overhaul Nigeria’s food systems, strengthen productivity, and making agriculture a profitable enterprise across the federation.
