Cross River Charts New Course for Cocoa, Coffee Economy
…State Government Engages Investors to Boost Agro-Industrial Growth
By Ebi COLLINS
Cross River State is laying the groundwork for a major shift in its cocoa and coffee sectors, signaling a new era of agro-industrial development powered by private investment and strategic partnerships.
At an investor-focused roundtable organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, on Wednesday in Calabar, top officials, private sector players, and development partners gathered in Calabar to explore opportunities for sustainable investment across the value chains of two of the state’s most valuable commodities—cocoa and coffee.
Addressing the forum, Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, said the engagement reflects the vision of Governor Senator Bassey Edet Otu to position Cross River as a leading agro-industrial hub in Nigeria. According to him, the state is shifting away from the age-old model of exporting unprocessed cocoa and coffee, and instead embracing a future built on local processing, product branding, and employment generation.
Central to the conversation was the unveiling of the state’s 7-Year Strategic Cocoa and Coffee Development Plan, a blueprint that outlines transformative projects aimed at revitalizing the sector. The plan includes the creation of six modern cocoa estates, experimental cultivation of Arabica and Robusta coffee in ecologically suitable areas, and the development of a unique “Cross River flavor identity” to strengthen the state’s position in the global commodity market.
Ebokpo highlighted the state’s commitment to empowering the more than 70 percent of producers who are smallholder farmers. The government, he said, is providing equitable land access, training programs, market linkage support, and plans to roll out local processing hubs across local government areas. These hubs will feature essential infrastructure such as fermentation tanks, solar dryers, and packaging lines—ensuring that value addition takes place closer to the farms.
The Commissioner urged investors, donor agencies, and financial institutions to leverage the state’s robust Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework to support sustainable production, modern irrigation systems, commodity exchange platforms, and direct trade linkages. He described the roundtable as the beginning of a long-term engagement to unlock the full potential of the state’s agricultural economy.
Declaring the event open, the First Lady of Cross River State, Bishop Dr. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu—represented by Dr. Inyang Asibong, Special Adviser on Gender Mainstreaming—called for deliberate inclusion of women in all aspects of the coffee value chain. She stated that women must be seen not just as laborers but as producers, processors, and entrepreneurs. Dr. Asibong disclosed that the Office of the First Lady has already begun subsidizing coffee seedlings for women and deploying female extension agents across all 18 local government areas to support female-led agribusiness.
She added that the administration is committed to breaking gender-based barriers in agriculture, especially in high-value sectors like coffee. “We want women not only in the fields but also leading the innovation, enterprise, and profit side of this value chain,” she said.
The roundtable also featured goodwill messages from notable stakeholders. Dr. Coffie Mawuli, Country Director of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) for Ghana and Nigeria, praised Cross River’s inclusive approach and noted that the alignment with WCF’s goals makes the state an ideal partner for regional cocoa sector reform.
Similarly, Mrs. Nana Paturel, representing GreenVest Capital Nigeria Ltd., expressed enthusiasm for future collaboration with the state, highlighting Cross River’s investor-friendly policies and strategic clarity as major assets.
Adding to the momentum, Professor Susan Ohen, Chairperson of the Cross River State Multi-Stakeholder Committee on Cocoa, Coffee, and Oil Palm, affirmed that the state is not just developing plans but actively executing them. She assured investors that Cross River is ready for real, results-oriented partnerships.
“We’re not just looking for promises—we’re building with people who want to create impact. This state is ready to lead on the national and international stage in cocoa and coffee,” she said.
