BY: VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
In a bid to boost cocoa farming in the state, Cross River government has procured inputs worth N50million for distribution to farmers across the state.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Agriculture iMr Okon Nyong-Owuna, when he led the leadership of Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, Cross River Chapter, in an inspection visit to the cocoa processing factory in Ikom local government area.
Nyong-Owuna said that the procurement of the inputs was to boast cocoa production in the state and improve yields in line with governor Ben Ayade’s agricultural revolution in the state.
According to him, the Ayade led-administration in the state places premium on agricultural investment, promotion and production tagged “Green Money”.
He assured the farmers that the state government will establish more cocoa estates in the state with a view to create more millionaires from the sector and get farmers productively engaged to meet the demands of the cocoa factory.
“Gov. Ayade of the state is passionate on getting cocoa farmers productively engaged and making them green millionaires.
“With that, the governor has promised to establish more cocoa estates in the state in line with his agenda to boast cocoa production”, he said.
Speaking, Chairman of Cocoa Farmers Association in the state, Mr Ayuk Abang, lauded Ayade’s agro industrial revolution in the state and the building of the cocoa factory in Ikom.
Abang said that the inputs will go a long way in helping them to improve their yields and boast the capacity of their production.
He also commended the Commissioner for Agriculture for being the first Commissioner to interface directly with rural cocoa farmers in the state.
Earlier, the Chairman complained to the Commissioner that the chemicals they usually buy from the market was adulterated and not good enough for production.
He added that with the gesture of the state government, they were sure of reliable and high quality inputs for their production.
