In view to help eradicate hunger and poverty in Cross River State and the Nation at large, the Governor of the state Senator Bassey Otu has donated 100,000 hectares of land to boost productivity of cassava and other crops.
Representing the Governor during a cassava value chain stakeholders workshop, organized by the National Agriculture Growth Scheme and Agropocket( NAGS-AP) which was held in Calabar the State capital. The Commissioner for crops and irrigation development Mr. Johnson Ebokpo announced the land allocation to cassava farmers.
The land allocation he said was to encourage cassava farmers produce more as well as produce other crops in large quantity for the benefit of the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product, having initiated a statewide soil and fertility map exercise for all crops which is ongoing in the State thereby guaranteeing food security and financial dividend in the State.
The Commissioner said, if Countries like China, United States, and Japan could export millions of tonnes of cassava and other related products, Africa cannot neglect the numerous benefits derived from the massive production of cassava. And to achieve it he said, creating a conducive enabling environment for cassava farmers is necessary which his ministry will do with the help of various stakeholders who are ready to invest in agro businesses in the State to boost cassava production.
Earlier in his speech, while declaring the workshop open Professor Chiedozie Egesi the Chief Executive Officer National Root Crops Research Institute, said the whole idea for the workshop is aimed at boosting cassava productivity among smaller cassava farmers and linking them with industries for a proper value chain system not only on cassava but other related crops like wheat, maize, rice and soyabean.
