CRODI: Monarchs, Farmers Laud Gov. Otu's Agricultural Programme
By Ebi COLLINS
As the profiling exercise for oil palm farmers interested in purchasing government's subsidized sprouted nuts across the state ends, traditional rulers, existing and intending oil palm farmers have poured encomium on Governor Bassey Otu for his ambitious target of boosting agricultural productivity in the state through the impactful programme known as Cross River State Oil Palm Development Initiative (CRODI).
Under this programme, the Cross River state government had procured 3.5 million improved variety of oil palm sprouted nuts and has concluded arrangements for distribution to profiled farmers in the coming weeks.
Leading the outpour of commendations, Obong of Calabar and Treaty King of the Efik Kingdom, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo-Okon Abasi Otu V, commended the present administration's farsighted initiative, noting that oil palm is a crop that is very valuable and cannot be wasted.
Addressing a monitoring team led by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Tree Crops, Mr. Fidelis Effa, the Royal Father added that oil palm has so many derivatives which equally serve as feed for animals on land and sea and has high economic value.
The Royal Father, who is also the Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, appreciated the State Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation for driving the laudable initiative in an accountable manner and encouraged Cross Riverians to participate in the project for a better future. He demonstrated his support and buy-in by submitting himself for profiling as an interested farmer.
In Ikot Effiom Community in Bakassi local government area, Chief Effiom Bassey Effiom also commended the initiative and promised to ensure more participation of farmers from the community.
In separate monitoring visits, the Clan Head of Ikahor, Afrike 2, Chief Andrew Ojisor and his counterpart in Atiekpe, Obudu, Chief Richard Ugbong Bissung applauded the programme and prayed for its success.
They presented challenges such as lack of farm access roads and Oil Palm mills and appealed for sustainable efforts by Government overall success.
In Agui-Asa Community of Ojuk South (Camp-5), Akamkpa, Pastor Moses Samson expressed appreciation to Gov. Otu for remembering the grassroots, hoping that the project would benefit families and guarantee hope for the future.
"I prefer the Gov's initiative over a mere bag of rice," he noted.
The Women were not left out as Madam Monica Nyiamson in Egbe Mbube also expressed satisfaction with the exercise after being profiled. She noted that the oil palm development initiative will be a life time investment for her children and grandchildren.
Although at the beginning of the enumeration exercise, there was low turnout in some communities and expression of skepticism about the project due to past disappointments, the recent field data presented by various enumerators shows significant improvement as different monitoring teams were able to raise more awareness and allay the fears of a possible disappointment with an assurance of the People First agenda of the Senator Bassey Otu-led administration.
