By Blessing Enagu.
GOV OTU INAUGURATES COMMITTEE FOR COCOA, COFFEE AND OIL PALM DEVELOPMENT.
… Ebokpo Commends Otu’s ‘People First’ Agric Revolution…
Consistent with his robust Agricultural drive, Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu has inaugurated a Multi Stakeholder Committee to draw a framework for Cocoa, Coffee and Oil Palm development.
Giving a charge to the Committee, Gov. Otu affirmed his determination to derive maximum return from the comparative advantage Cross River has in Cocoa, Coffee and Oil Palm crops, adding that the Stakeholders were considered based on their respective experiences and managerial backgrounds in order to seamlessly achieve the desired goal.
The Governor upheld his belief in Agriculture as the hope of the State and informed that his administration has earmarked 3.5 million sprouted nuts for planting, with plans underway for the launching of a 30 billion naira commercial agriculture development project called ” Project Grow.”
“We have also commenced the extension of the Small Holder Cocoa Development scheme for the development of new estates and the regeneration of existing ones. It is my fervent belief that your inauguration today will expand the scope of our vision,” he added.
Gov. Otu told the Committee members that in them lies “the future of the agricultural development of Cross River State and by extension the hope of our economic revival and development.”
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo lauded Gov Otu’s Agricultural initiative geared towards reducing fiscal waste and subsidizing all forms of productivity, noting that all actions are in line with His Excellency’s People First mantra.
Ebokpo who lamented that Cross River State has not been able to effectively maximize the potential in Cocoa and Oil Palm despite being the Major producer, expressed confidence that “Gov. Otu will make Agriculture the mainstay of our economy and will ensure that adequate value will be extracted from Agriculture.”
The Commissioner further explained that a development plan cannot be drawn without active involvement of key Stakeholders which is why the Multi Stakeholder Committee is categorized into the Central Committee, Sub Committee and the Technical Partners.
The Central Committee has the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Prof. Susan Ohen as Chairman, Prof. Damian Agom of Akwa Ibom State University as Vice Chairman, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Mr. Ekpe Bassey and the CEO of A. A Universal Agro Industry Ltd, Chief Barr. Chris Agara as members.
Other members are; Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, Hon. Bette Obi, Chairman CRS Forestry Commission, Rt. Hon. George Oben Etchi,
Chairman, Cocoa Allocation, Rehabilitation Development Committee, Prince Cosmas Ebori Nku, and Director General for Public Private Partnership, Mr. Francis Ntamu.
The Committee also has Agbor Agbor, William Ifere, Ubi Ubana, Cliff Oyira and Chuks Ofulue of PIND Foundation, Abuja.
The Commissioner for Commerce, Dr. Mrs. Abigail Duke, Rt. Hon. Daniel Asuquo, Koffy Kouacou, the FAO Representative in Nigeria and Nifesimi Ogunkwa, Climate Specialist, FAO Representative in Nigeria are also members of the Central Committee.
The Committee Terms of Reference include the following: to develop a comprehensive 7-year strategic plan for Cocoa Coffee, and Oil Palm; design a strategic policy framework for Cocoa and coffee development and mobilize resources for the establishment of six new Cocoa Estates in the State.
Others are: to review old produce laws on Oil Palm and Cocoa, design a roadmap for coffee development, and develop an institutional framework for Public, Private Partnership for investment in the Oil Palm sector.
