C’River Government Partners IFAD On Enhanced Agricultural Produce

Taking advantage of numerous opportunities accrued to a functional agricultural sector including Cross River arable lands and skilled human capital deposits in ensuring food availability with marketing infrastructure to generate revenue, the State government has attracted partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a United Nations agency poised to reduce poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries with a view to improve livelihood.

In a think-tank meeting with the Cross River State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture and a delegation from IFAD, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation at the Ministry’s Head office in Calabar expressed government optimism in taking agriculture to the apex through viable partnership such as the IFAD initiative with direct bearings on Cross Riverians. He emphasized that his Ministry having inspected and commissioned some completed projects of IFAD, remains upbeat of changing the agricultural fortunes of rural dwellers in the coming days.

The chief Agriculturist of the state, Ebokpo called for review of IFAD Bill of engineering in line with current market trends to enable contractors deliver jobs to specification as the Ministry projects greater engagements with critical stakeholders in 2025. However, Hon. Johnson noted pockets of challenges militating against Agriculture ministry in discharging her mandate of food sufficiency in the state. To this end, he sued for enabling laws from the parliament that guarantees safety in a bid to attract direct foreign investments into the state.

Responding on behalf of other House Committee Members, Hon. Bette Philip Obi, Chairman of the Committee and Member, representing Boki 1 State Constituency applauded the Ministry of Agriculture and IFAD for the novel initiative aimed at bridging the gap on agricultural productivity. He assured parties of legislative soft-landing for the good of Cross River State in line with the governor’s people first mantra.

To ascertain the level of preparedness in stemming the ugly tale of food shortage and skyrocketing poverty index, the Committee proposed oversight to IFAD facilities that enables for broader interface with other management staff of the Agency. The Lawmakers in their individual contributions assured of synergizing with the Executive arm and other spirited Agencies in making life meaningful in the state, underscoring the importance of unity of purpose.  

On his part, IFAD Cross River coordinator, Mr. Innocent M. Ogbin, thanked Cross River state for the convivial atmosphere to thrive and enthusiasm to ameliorate sufferings on the populace through effective agricultural practices. Mr. Ogbin while assured of driving needed changes into this all important sector outlining some of their achievements to include Ebuma road construction in Abi, provision of marketing infrastructure that supports agricultural practices, introduction of nutrition into school curriculum across the state, acquisition of lands for commercial agriculture, facilitation for the establishment of school gardens for students to understand the rudiment of agriculture at elementary level among.

However, he stressed that these success stories are not without challenges ranging from perception of beneficiaries especially youth demography in imbibing new ideas. He posited that his Agency has adopted the incubation model to enhance proficiency. According to him, this model provides for identification of a successful person in a chosen enterprise in the community considered a role model to the teeming youths interested in the chosen trade.

On identifying potential beneficiaries, the team lead noted that IFAD has stipulated criteria that are religiously observed to make for prudent selection while recounting plethora of abandoned fish ponds and pottery farms undergoing renovations by IFAD, aimed at accelerating human capital development in the state.

It would be recalled that IFAD’s mission is to improve agricultural development and livelihoods in developing countries with Nigeria inclusive. Having aligned systematically to this agricultural revolutionaries code name International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Cross River State is set on a pedestal for even development.

Dignitaries present includes, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation, Hon. Bette Philip Obi, Hon. Egbe Aben Egbe, Hon. Linus Etim.

Others are, Hon. Brian Odey, Hon. Eyo Eyo, Hon. Ovat Agbor, Mr. Innocent Ogbin, Marcellus Ati, state Project coordinator, Dr. Maurice Olory among others.