- The strategy focuses on utilizing the state’s agricultural advantages to create jobs and ensure food security
- Plans include cultivating 100 hectares of cassava and planting 3.5 million hybrid oil palm seedlings across 13 locations
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River has announced that his administration has successfully attracted a private sector investment of $15 million for the development of the Ayip Eku Oil Palm Estate in the Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.
Governor Otu shared this information during a media briefing held to commemorate his first 100 days in office in Calabar.
He emphasized that his government’s strategy aims to harness the state’s inherent agricultural advantages to create job opportunities and ensure food security for its residents.
Governor Otu further detailed the government’s commitment to the agricultural sector, revealing the establishment of a six-year N30 billion agriculture guarantee fund dedicated to supporting rice, maize, fisheries, and livestock farmers.
He outlined plans to cultivate 100 hectares of cassava within the upcoming year and highlighted the commencement of a project involving the planting of 3.5 million hybrid oil palm seedlings across 13 different locations within the state.
“In agric-related human capital development, the state has sponsored its indigenes to participate in cassava-bio value chain conference in Asaba-Delta for subsequent establishment of cassava-biofuel factory in the state, as well as a workshop on sustainable oil palm economy,” the governor said.
Mr Otu added, “Similarly, 50 starter-rice growers have been given free rice seedlings, fertiliser and pesticides, while 30 starter-livestock farmers have been assisted with day-old chicks and feeds.
“The objective is to leverage the multiplier effect of agriculture on employment and growth of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”