The Cross River State Governmment says it has created a platform where it pays in N150 million every month to ensure all the value chains have access to funds to own farms and increase their production.
Governor Sen. Bassey Edet Otu, stated this during the signing of a collaborative agreements with the Lake Chad Institute of Research and the Ahmadu Bello University Institute of Research to boost agricultural productivity in Calabar.
The signing for partnership which was done in his office, aims to address the financial constraints faced by farmers and off-takers, thereby boosting agricultural productivity and development in the state.
The Governor explained thus: “In the state, we have created project GROW; one of the missing links has been access to finance for farmers and off takers.
Also, “We created the platform where we pay in N150m every month to make sure all the value chains have access to funds to own the farms and increase their production.”
He said his administration’s focus on commercial agriculture is very clear.
Again, he said they cannot be growing seeds or buying seeds.
“It is in line with this that we are collaborating with you.”
“You are tested and proven with results in other climes,” Governor Otu noted.
Moreover, “This partnership aims to provide improved seeds for various crops such as maize, wheat, and cowpeas.
Furthermore, Governor Otu said he is committed to subsidizing all factors of food production.
He said he started with soil mapping across the state to optimize crop cultivation.
In addition, initiated Project GROW to provide farmers with access to finance, for sustainable and profitable agricultural practices in the state.
Meanwhile, the signing of the partnership held between the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation, Johnson Ebekpo Jnr and the representatives of the two institutions.
For instance, Mr Ebekpo Jnr who signed on behalf of Cross River State assured that the state will fulfill her part in the partnership in other to derive greater benefits.
Also, the Executive Director, lake Chad research institute, Alhaji Baba Gana Kabir confirmed the state is making history within the Southern region in Agriculture.
“We have collaborations in North East and North West, but this is the first of it’s kind in the southern part of Nigeria,” he stated.
Alhaji Kabir said one of their core mandate is genetic improvement of several crops.
For instance, these crops include maize, cowpea, sorghum, ground nut, cotton, sunflower and others.
“Other mandate include involving in the genetic improvement of both food and medicinal crops,” Kabir added.
Also, ” we have over 50 varieties of maize and cowpeas that can do very well in almost all ecologies.”
For instance, “three ecology in Nigeria supports wheats and one of them is the Obudu plateau,” he concluded.
Therefore, the government has created a platform to provide funding to farmers and off-takers, with a monthly allocation of N150 million (approximately $375,000 USD).
The goal is to ensure that all stakeholders in the agricultural value chain have access to funds to Own farms and Increase production.
In essence, Project GROW aims to address the financial constraints faced by farmers and off-takers.