The Executive Director, Lake Chad Research Institute, Alhaji Baba Gana Kabir (R) and Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation, Johnson Ebekpo in a hand shake whole Gov Bassey Otu watches from the background.
By Anietie Akpan
The Cross River state government entered collaborative agreements with the Lake Chad Institute of Research and the Ahmadu Bello University Institute of Research to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
This partnership aims to provide improved seeds for various crops such as maize, wheat, and cowpeas.
The State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, who witnessed the signing of the partnership done in his office, between the State Commissioner for Agriculture and the representatives of the two institutions, emphasized the importance of agriculture, stating that it is the state’s main focus.
The government is committed to subsidizing all factors of production and has conducted soil mapping to optimize crop cultivation, he said.
Adding that government initiatives like Project GROW aim to provide farmers with access to finance, ensuring sustainable and profitable agricultural practices in the state.
Gov. Otu highlighted measures taken preparatory to the launch of the different Agriculture value chains in the state, saying, “we try to focus on Agriculture in way and manner that is sustainable, and ensures that risk is reduced to the barest minimum. We have carried out and completed the soil mapping of our State to know the soil texture of each location and what crop will have better yeild in each soil type to ensure maximum yield in crop cultivation.
“In the state, we have created project GROW, one of the missing links has been access to finance for farmers and off takers. We created the platform where we pay in N150m every month. We are trying to make sure all the value chains have access to funds to own the farms and increase their production.
“Our focus on commercial agriculture is very clear, and we cannot be growing seeds or buying seeds. It is in line with this that we are collaborating with you. You are tested and proven with results in other climes.”
The governor assured them of the State’s support acknowledging the rich land and water resources available in the State.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Director, Lake Chad Research Institute, Alhaji Baba Gana Kabir said, the state is making history within the Southern region in Agriculture.
He said, “Cross River is making history, what we are doing here today is unprecedented, we have collaborations in North East and North West. This is the first of it’s kind in the southern part of Nigeria”.
Kabir said the Institute has been involved in research of several varieties of Agriculture crops with proven records in the Northern parts of the country and “one of our core mandate is the genetic improvement of several crops, some of these crops are maize, cowpea, sorghum, ground nut, cotton, sunflower and others. We are both involved in the genetic improvement of both food and medicinal crops.
“We have varieties that can do very well in almost all ecologies, for instance three ecology in Nigeria supports wheats and one of them is the Obudu plateau. We also have over 50 varieties of maize and cowpeas.”
Considering the current economic reality in the country, Kabir emphasized the need to prioritize agriculture as the mainstay for the country’s economic recovery.
He said that, “if you look at the economy of the country, companies are collapsing, agriculture should be considered as the mainstay for the economic recovery of the country”
This collaboration is expected to accelerate agriculture productivity, contribute to food security and drive economic growth in the State.
The commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation, Johnson Ebekpo Jnr who signed on behalf of Cross River assured that the state will fulfil her part in the partnership in other to derive greater benefits.
