WFD: C'River Ranks Among Wheat Producing States In Nigeria, Says Agric. Commissioner

Hannah ARIKPO

As Cross River joins the world to celebrate World Food Day, Commissioner of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, has disclosed that Cross River have seen included as one of the wheat producing states in Nigeria for rain fed and irrigated wheat.

This designation places Cross River as the first first and only wheat producing state in southern Nigeria and the sixteenth in the Country.

Speaking shortly after a panel discussion on the theme of the 2024 World Food Day held in Calabar, Ebokpo said government is partnering the floor mills Plc to develop an hectare wheat demonstration farm in Obanliku local govt in preparation to expanding to two thousand hectares of farm land extending it to the Obudu ranch as it's backward integration program.

He listed other government public private partnership to include agreement with renowned Brains and Hammes for commercial cultivation of 5,000 hectares of rice paddy to feed the Ogoja Rice mills, local mills as well as other states of the federation with huge milling capacity, understanding with Barry Callebaut, an international cocoa processing for the establishment of a greenfield cocoa processing factory in the state, collaboration with FAO in the implementation of a mangrove and rainforest restoration programme that seeks to transform food and land use systems with focus on accelerating action in lands scapes along value chains for cocoa and oil palms.

"Currently, the ministry has distributed twenty-four thousand bags of inputs, consisting of NPK Fertilizers and Urea to farmers Cooperatives and Associations across the state, distribution of Agricultural farm asset's to fifteen thousand beneficiaries under NG-CARES FADAMA programme, rehabilitation of over twenty five farm access roads," Ebokpo disclosed.

Earlier in a keynote address, the Dean , faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Prof Susam Ohen, expressed optimism that the present administration has placed the state on a promising path towards ensuring that it's citizens enjoy the Right to food, for a better life and future, commending the progressive initiatives. 

"The ministry of Agric has implemented key policies such as Cassava value chain development policy to boost food security while a multi Stakeholders committee is diligently working on a strategic plan for the Cocoa, Coffee and Oil Palm sectors.

The distribution of spouted oil palm nuts further underscores these interventions,"Ohen emphasised.

The four man Panel discussion agreed that the key aspects of the right to food for a better life are adequacy, accessibility, availability, sustainability,and freedom from hunger.

More than Six indigenous Agric Entrepreneurs and Three Non Governmental Organisations were honoured for their contributions in boosting Agricultural practices in the state.

The Commissioner later led the Agro team on inspection of exhibition stands at the Calabar Municipal Council.